Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Montricoux stands at the entrance of the gorges of Aveyron, on the old roads linking Caussade to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, in the Tarn-et-Garonne. Its architecture combines a 12th century square dungeon, 20 meters high, and a 18th century residential part of Tuscan inspiration. The dungeon, with hard limestone walls and massive foothills, housed a vaulted guard room in a broken cradle, decorated with geometric frescoes inspired by Moorish. The upper floors, connected by a screw staircase, overlooked a watchtower passage.

Former Templar Commandory, the castle was ceded in 1181 by the monks of Saint Antonin to the Knights of the Temple. After the dissolution of the order in 1312, he passed to the Hospitallers, then was sold in 1332 to Pierre Duèze, brother of Pope John XXII. The seigneury remained in the Duèze/Caraman family for three centuries, before being acquired in 1616 by Maximilien de Bethune, Duke of Sully, who was founded in the county. Ravaged in 1568 by Calvinists during the religious wars, the castle was rebuilt in the 18th century by the Count of Malartic, integrating the old dungeon with an elegant residence.

The dungeon, classified as a historical monument in 1927, now houses the Marcel-Lenoir Museum, dedicated to this artist (1872-1931). The private museum, founded by Claude Namy, preserves 130 works (drawings, pastels, oils) by Lenoir. The oval entrance to the castle, adorned with monumental statues by Jean-Marie-Joseph Ingres, leads to halls with 18th century woodwork and a stone staircase inspired by the "Return of Egypt" style.

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