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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The barn of Bargues, located in the former courtyard of the castle of Assier, is a house mentioned since 1545 as the home of the shield Murat of Montai. This building, listed as a historic monument on December 27, 2001, illustrates an architectural typology not represented in the Lot. Its position in Murat's enclosure reflects the permanence of a medieval arrangement, while keeping in mind the Renaissance context of Quercy.

The castle of Assier, on which this house depended, was built between 1518 and 1535 by Jacques Ricard de Genouillac, dit Galiot de Genouillac, master of arms of François I. This military tactician, famous for his artillery innovations, built a castle reflecting his prestige, mixing medieval heritage (round towers) and Renaissance influences (loggias, carved friezes). The Barn of Bargues, although distinct, is part of this architectural complex marked by the transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Over the centuries, the estate underwent major changes: in 1768, the Duke of Uzès, descendant of Galiot, sold part of the castle to demolishers, retaining only the west wing for agricultural use. Bargues' barn, spared, today bears witness to this complex history, where seigneurials and rural adaptations meet. Its inscription in 2001 highlights its heritage value in a department rich in Renaissance castles like Montal or Cénevières.

The site, managed by the National Monuments Centre, offers a rare example of a secondary seigneurial home integrated into a castral domain. Unlike the castle, partially destroyed, Bargues' barn retains a authenticity related to its residential use from the 16th century. Its name may refer to an initial agricultural function, although the sources do not specify its exact use until 1545.

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