Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Mercuès, located in the Lot in Occitanie region, has dominated the Lot valley since the Middle Ages. Mentioned from the 7th century under the name of Camp de Mercure, it could have been a fort, although the first attested constructions date from the 13th century. The bishops of Cahors, charged with defending the city against the English and the roadmen, made it a strategic fortress to control the approaches of Cahors and the valley. The castle became their summer residence for seven centuries, playing a key role in medieval conflicts in the Midi de la France.

In the 15th century, Bishop Antoine d'Alamand undertook a partial reconstruction, including the machicoulis master tower and the chapel. The 17th and 18th centuries saw major improvements: Bishop Pierre Habert (1626-1637) modernized the facades and defences, while decorative elements (false appliances, terraces) were added. After the Revolution, the castle changed hands several times, passing from bishops to private owners, including Bishop Grimardias, who restored his fascist in the 19th century.

The 1905 law on the separation of churches and the state made the castle a state property, sold in 1906 to doctor Jean-Louis Faure. During the Second World War, the estate will house both Jewish children saved by the Israelite Work of Country Stays (1939-1943) and a Vichyst Civic Center. In 1942, a secret meeting sealed the rally of the Companions of France to the Resistance. Ranked a historic monument in 1947, it became a hotel-restaurant under Georges Héreil ( 1960s), then a renowned wine and gastronomic estate, member of the Relais & Châteaux network.

The 35-hectare vineyard, planted in Malbec (or Cot), Merlot and Tannat, produces red wine guard and a mellow white based on Chenin. The exceptional density of the vines (6 666 feet/hectare) gives the wines a remarkable concentration. The restaurant, starred at the Michelin Guide, showcases local products (truffle, saffron, Malbec) in the old dining room of the bishops.

The architecture of the castle mixes medieval elements (donjon, archères, mâchicoulis) and 17th and 18th century developments (sleeps, terraces, leisure garden). The central courtyard, surrounded by houses and towers, preserves a chapel and a flamboyant-style staircase. The interiors, rebuilt in the 19th century, house thematic rooms (Louis XVI style, Art Deco style) and a classified parquet with a sundial.

Today, the Mercuès castle combines heritage, oenology and luxury hotels. Its 24 rooms and 6 suites, decorated according to different historical periods, perpetuate the memory of the bishops of Cahors. The estate, open to the public, offers visits to the vineyards, tastings and a gastronomic experience in a classified setting, between history and modernity.

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