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Origin and history

Château de Vaux, located in Sarroux-Saint Julien en Corrèze, is a former seigneurial residence dating back to the 12th century. The medieval site, probably in ruins, was replaced in the 17th century by a Louis XIII style building, built by Pierre de Langlade, a lawyer at the Bordeaux Parliament. The latter acquired the seigneury in 1627, marking the beginning of a period of major architectural transformation, with the reuse of the stones of the original medieval castle.

Until the 14th century, the seigneury of Vaux belonged to an auvergnate family of Fleurac (Ydes), before being ceded in 1368 to the limo family of Lestranges. In the 17th century, the Vernejoux family sold the estate to Pierre de Langlade, who erected the current building, dated 1635 by an inscription on the fireplace. The castle remained in the offspring of the Langlades until 1910, the date of the death of Anne de Langlade de Vaux, the last direct heiress.

After 1910, the castle changed hands several times: ceded to the Masson de Saint-Félix family (notary in Treignac), then alienated in 1929 after the premature death of Marie Paule Elisabeth Masson. During World War II, its owner, director of Bort tanneries, was deported during the Nazi raid of 1943. The castle then became a holiday colony under the management of the commune of Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, before being acquired in 2002 by the Bellanger family. It was finally listed for historical monuments in 2017 for its architectural quality.

Architecturally, the Château de Vaux is distinguished by its Louis XIII style, innovative for Bas-Limousin. Its symmetrical facade, its corner scallops and its square tower contrast with the traditional seigneurial houses of the region. Inside, a monumental stone staircase and an engraved fireplace from the year 1635 testify to its history. The facades, roofs and stairwell have been protected since 2017.

The site, initially surrounded by gardens replaced by a meadow, illustrates the evolution of the uses of seigneurial residences: from medieval power to modern country residence, then to educational center before becoming a private property again. Its history reflects the social and political upheavals of the Corrèze, from the Old Regime to the contemporary era.

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