Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Campagnac, built between the 14th and 16th centuries, was originally located in the parish of Saint-Martin, near Sarlat-la-Canéda. He belonged to the bourgeois family Plamon, influential in the region, having provided several consuls to the city. Its strategic location made it a target during the Hundred Years' War, especially in 1348, when English troops seized it briefly before being repulsed by the inhabitants of Sarlat and the Senechal of the Périgord.

In 1360, the castle was involved in the conflicts between Gilbert de Domme, Sénéchal du Périgord, and the city of Sarlat, allied with the English. After negotiations, an agreement was reached in 1361, ending local hostilities. The castle then changed hands, passing to the Roux families of Campagnac and Abzac. During the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, it was occupied by Protestants and became a strategic point in the regional clashes.

In 1592, Lord Jean Roux was killed defending the castle against an attack. Part of the estate was sold as a national property in 1794, then purchased by local families. In the 19th century, the castle had several owners, including the Baron of Dampierre and the Watelin family, who carried out works there. In the 20th century, it served briefly as an orphanage before being bought by the commune in 1980 to avoid its occupation by a Buddhist community.

Today, the castle is abandoned, despite partial protections for historical monuments (1998 and 2025). Its 40 hectares are used for hiking. In 2025, it will serve as a setting for a web series, while waiting for a possible restoration, estimated at 2 million euros.

The staircase tower, registered in 1998, and the entire castle, registered in 2025, testify to its architectural importance. The remains of the pool and the pavilions recall its seigneurial past. Despite its present state, the site remains a symbol of the perigord heritage, linked to the tumults of regional history.

External links