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Origin and history

The English Castle, located in the Lot, is a troglodytic fortress built between the 11th and 12th centuries. Designated under the name of the Rocca in ancient texts, it is built as a shelter under fortified rock, joined to a cliff of 50 meters high. Its strategic location, at the border of Auvergne and Toulouse counties, makes it a key checkpoint in the region.

In 1178, the châtellenie of Saint-Céré, on which Autoire depends, passed under the control of the Viscounts of Turenne. The castle was probably built at that time by the Baron of Castelnau-Gramat. In 1259 Garin de Castelnau, lord of Gramat, paid tribute to the castle (then called the Roque d'Autoire) to Alphonse de Poitiers, Count of Toulouse. In 1286, the site was ceded to the King of England among other seigneuries, marking its attachment to English possessions in France.

During the Hundred Years' War (XIVth century), the castle served as a den for the English Companies, mainly occupied in 1378 by road captain Bernard de La Salle, in the service of the King of England. After the conflict, the lord of Autoire built a tower with a staircase with screws and mâchicoulis, strengthening the defenses. The site was then occupied by the Protestants in 1562, then in 1588 by a band commanded by Captain Vinsou (Jean Mollé), before being restored in 1647 by the Viscount of Turenne during the Fronde.

Abandoned in the 18th century, the castle was looted for its stones by the inhabitants, then invaded by vegetation. It was listed as a historical monument in 1925. Its remains include a north tower with poterno, a 12th century fortified cave, and staircase terraces. The complex, 200 meters long, was protected by four towers and a wall, with a fortified village of 22 houses below.

Architecturally, the castle combines troglodytic and masonry elements in local limestone. The central turris (feudal tower) probably dates from the 13th century, with thick walls of 1.15 m and floors anchored in the rock. A northern house, added between the late 13th and 14th centuries, incorporates amenities such as a fireplace and latrines. The staircase tower, added in the 15th or 16th century, serves all three levels and is crowned with mâchicoulis. Traces of stone extraction and modern climbing routes surround the cliff today.

The site illustrates medieval military adaptations to geological constraints, with buildings partially dug into the rock and defences optimized for access control. Its history reflects Franco-English conflicts, religious wars and local tensions, before its gradual decline in modern times.

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