Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Pechrigal, or Pech Rigal, whose name means "royal hill", was built in the 14th century by Pierre de Casatou, a noble lord of the province of Saint-Clair. This monument, located in the Lot, has traversed centuries by changing owners, passing in particular into the hands of the families Séguy, Périer, and Louis Lasvignes-Salanié, before being acquired by the Dreyffus.

In 1963, the castle became the property of the poet, composer and singer Léo Ferré. During his stay, he composed several of his iconic albums, inspired by poets such as Verlaine, Rimbaud and Baudelaire. Ferré lived there until 1968, when he left after his separation. The castle, abandoned, was then subjected to acts of vandalism before being bought in 1998 by John Mandec, a Franco-American.

John Manchec undertook a complete restoration of the castle, transforming it into a luxury hotel. Despite its efforts, attempts to sell the castle in 2018 and 2020 failed, despite an auction of €1.51 million. In 2023, Manchec, then incarcerated in Florida, tried to escape to join Pechrigal, adding a dramatic touch to the recent history of the place.

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