Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The château de Montbrun, located in the Lot department, originally belonged to the Gourdon family before being ceded in 1223 to Déodat de Barasc, seigneur of Béduer. When he died in 1231, the fief was passed on to his son Déodat II, then fragmented among his heirs, including the Arpajon and the Cardaillacs. In 1315 and 1317, exchanges with the king of France allowed him to acquire shares of the castle, before it was finally reunited by the Cardaillac-Brengues family in the middle of the 14th century.

During the Hundred Years' War, the castle was taken in 1362 by roadmen in the service of the English, and then released in 1396 by the Count of Armagnac. Ravaged by a fire in 1578 during the Wars of Religion, it was lifted from its ruins before being sold in 1616 to Jacques de Laurency. The latter and his descendants, including Jean Louis de Laurency, transformed the seigneury into a marquisat in 1681 and built the site with a terrace overlooking the Lot Valley.

At the Revolution, the castle was confiscated as a national property and sold in 1798. Acquired by the Jammes family, he remained in their hands until 1965 without significant maintenance. Ranked a historic monument in 1984, it now bears witness to a turbulent history, marked by changes in owners, armed conflicts and architectural transformations related to its strategic role in Quercy.

Historical sources also mention key matrimonial alliances, such as that of Isabelle de Montal with Marques II de Cardaillac-Brengues in 1342, which allowed this family to reunite the whole seigneury. The archives also highlight the role of local lords in the wars of Religion, with figures such as Marguerite de Cardaillac-Brengues, heiress of the estate in the 16th century.

The castle, abandoned by the family of La Prune for the benefit of their residence in Salvagnac-Cajarc, falls in disuse before its heritage protection. Its architecture reflects successive developments, including the southern terrace created by the Laurency, offering a perspective on the Saut de la Mounine circus. The bibliographical references cite local books and medieval counts to support its history.

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