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Origin and history

The fortified enclosure of Larressingle came into being in the 13th century, when the abbots of Condom, lords of the place, had this fortress erected to protect their villa and the church of Saint-Sigismund. The site, initially an abbey residence, was transformed into a castrum in 1279 under Edward I of England, before returning to the French royal estate in 1324. The enclosure, equipped with seven square towers and a drawbridge (later replaced by a fixed bridge), illustrates the defensive techniques of the period, with arched cross-shaped arches and a partially preserved round path.

In the 17th century, the adjacent castle, abandoned by the bishops for the benefit of Cassaigne, was gradually abandoned. The structure of the roof was even dismantled at the end of the 18th century by Bishop d'Anterroches, the last bishop of Condom, to be reused elsewhere. Sold as a national good during the Revolution, the site fell into ruins in the 19th century, with only three inhabited houses. Its restoration in the 20th century was impulsed by the Duke of Treviso, who mobilized American patrons to save this medieval jewel.

The enclosure, classified as Historic Monument in 1947 and 1950, preserves ditches dug in limestone rock, partly in water, and 17th century houses backed by ramparts. The gate tower, equipped with a shoulder and a defensive airlock, marks the unique entrance to the village. Larressingle, a member of the association Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, today attracts 133 000 annual visitors, thanks to its preserved heritage and medieval reconstructions, such as the siege camp with its war machines.

The village was also an issue during the Wars of Religion: in 1589 the Leagues seized and used it as a base for their razzies until 1596. Antoine-Arnaud de Pardaillan de Gondrin, seigneur of Montespan, resisted attempts by the consuls of Condom. After his surrender Larressingle lost his military role, but his enclosure, a symbol of the abbatial and episcopal power, remained intact.

The origin of the name Larressingle dates back to a Gallo-Roman legend: a Roman legion, facing the local resistance, would have received the order "RETRO SINGULI" (reculate one by one). Another hypothesis links the toponym to the Latin "Cingulum" (premises) and to a reconstruction ("re-"), reflecting its history of reshaped stronghold. Today, the site combines architectural heritage and historical animations, perpetuating the memory of its tumultuous past.

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