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Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Mazères, located in Barran in Gers, finds its origins in the 11th century with the first donations of land and vineyards to the Archdiocese of Auch. In 1090, Pierre de Vic, now a canon, offered the domain of Mazères, then a simple farm with some fortified elements. It was not until the end of the 13th century, under the impulse of Amanieu II d'Armagnac, Archbishop of Auch from 1261 to 1318, that the present castle was built, including a chapel, an aula, and defensive elements like towers.

The castle underwent major transformations in the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Jean de la Tremeille (archbishop from 1490 to 1507) added a portal and moat, while Dominique de Vic (1625-1661) enlarged the commons and redeveloped the interior. Jean-François de Montillet (1742-1776) modernizes windows and decoration. At the Revolution, the castle was sold as a national good, then passed into the hands of private families, such as the Ferbeaux, who embellished it in the 19th century.

In the 20th century, the castle served as a military hospital during the First World War before being abandoned. Repurchased in 1981 by private individuals, it has since been undergoing restoration. Ranked a historical monument in 1981 and 1989, it preserves medieval elements such as gypseries, a painted chapel, and a nymph in its park. Its architecture reflects its dual use: episcopal residence and fortified agricultural estate.

The remains of the twelfth century towers, the sculpted rose similar to that of Majorca Palace (1291), and the ceramic tiles dated between 1280 and 1350 bear witness to its medieval history. Successive inventories (1318, 1583, 1684, 1776) document its evolution, while recent studies such as those of Olivier Meslay shed light on its role during the Great War or its classical transformations.

Today, Mazères Castle remains a private property, illustrating nearly a thousand years of religious, seigneurial and architectural history in Gascony. Its protections for historical monuments cover both the building and landscape elements such as the pool and nymphae, highlighting its regional heritage importance.

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