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Origin and history

The Château de Bréniges, located in Malemort-sur-Corrèze (Corrèze, Nouvelle-Aquitaine), has its origins in the 13th century, although its first written records date back to the 14th century. It was built by Malemort's family to replace their former Montemart castrum, abandoned in favor of a more central residence. This defensive castle, with walls, ditches and a square dungeon, was connected to the main castle by an underground. Over the centuries, he changed his hands, especially in 1581, when the Noailles family acquired it before abandoning it.

In the 19th century, the castle housed a silkworm herding (mulberry boomyx). In 1950, there were only three towers (including one square forming the dungeon), but the town hall demolished one to build a public square. Only two 13th-century circular towers were preserved, while the carved stones from the demolitions were preserved. The site was listed as historic monuments on August 16, 1956, marking its heritage protection.

The current remains, owned by the commune, bear witness to its medieval defensive role. The castle of Bréniges illustrates the architectural and social evolution of the seigneury of Malemort, passed from the hands of the Viscounts of Turenne (by alliance with German of Malemort, last heiress in the 12th century) to those of the Noailles, before its transformation into a public space in the 20th century.

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