Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château des Bories, located in Antonne-et-Trigonant (Dordogne), was built at the edge of the 15th and 16th centuries. It consists of a rectangular house flanked by two round towers and a square tower, surrounded by moat once fed by Isle. This castle, a private property, has been classified as a historic monument since 29 March 1974 and is situated in a preserved landscape, close to the National Road 21.

The construction began in 1494 for Jeanne de Hautefort, widow of Jean de Saint-Astier, on the remains of an old den. The works were completed in 1604 under Henri de Saint-Astier, a Protestant whose castle was taken by Catholics in 1592 during the wars of religion. In 1652 he was seated during the Fronde. At the Revolution, although condemned to demolition, only its outer walls were razed.

Architecturally, the castle combines defensive elements (mâchicoulis, ditches, drawbridge) and Renaissance innovations, as a monumental staircase forerunner of 17th century models. The guard room, vaulted with gothic veins, illustrates this stylistic transition. In 2023, the site served as a decor for the Fortune series of France, strengthening its contemporary cultural anchor.

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