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Origin and history

The castle of Costeraste, located in Gourdon in the Lot (Occitanie region), is a defensive building which began construction in 1218, during the Crusade des Albigeois. It is erected by the Ebrard family, then as a social climb, to control a strategic point between the valleys of Céou and Bléou, as well as the commercial routes to Cahors and the pilgrimage paths of Rocamadour. This castrum, composed of a tower, a seigneurial hall and a strong house, quickly became a military and economic issue in an area marked by tensions between the local lords and the royal and English powers.

During the Hundred Years War, the castle was occupied by road companies, including Aymar d'Ussel, which made it a base for abuses in the region between 1348 and 1391. These decades of looting and violence left the castrum in ruins, as evidenced by the ecclesiastical reports of the late 14th century. After this troubled period, the castle changed hands several times, passing from Ebrard to the Tustal, Lalande, Albareil families, and then Peyronnenc, each making architectural or administrative changes, reflecting their growing social status.

At the French Revolution, the castle was sold as a national good and divided into several lots. In the 19th century, a part was transformed into a parish and presbytery church, profoundly altering its medieval structure. It was only in the mid-20th century that the Boudet family began its restoration, giving the castle its original appearance and preserving its historical remains, including 13th and 17th century elements. Today, it embodies nearly eight centuries of Quercynian history, from feudal conflicts to revolutionary upheavals.

The architecture of the castle reveals its many transformations: the medieval tower, rebuilt after the Hundred Years' War, the seigneurial room with Gothic windows, and the renovated house in the 17th century with a unique military decor, possibly linked to inheritance disputes. The remains of the lower yard, enclosures and outbuildings (furnace, pantry) recall its role as an economic and defensive centre. The modifications of the 19th century, such as the creation of the church, have erased some elements, but recent restorations have made it possible to trace traces of its past.

The successive families that owned Costeraste — from Ebrard to Calvimont — illustrate the social dynamics of Quercy, from bourgeois enrichment to annoyance, marriage alliances and succession conflicts. Their history is mixed with that of major national events, such as the Wars of Religion or the Revolution, making this castle a mirror of the political and cultural changes of southern France.

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