Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Puymartin Castle, located in Marquay, Dordogne (New Aquitaine), has its origins in the 13th century, although its current structure dates mainly from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. Initially medieval fortress, it was occupied by the English in 1357 before being bought by the consuls of Sarlat, then abandoned. In 1450 Radulphe de Saint-Clar undertook its reconstruction, marking the beginning of its current architectural history.

In the 16th century, the castle became a Catholic bastion under Raymond de Saint-Clar, who defended it against the Protestants and took Sarlat back to the Huguenots. The 17th century was marked by a long conflict of succession between Jean de Saint-Clar and his sister Suzanne, who eventually became the owner. Abandoned in the 18th century, it was restored in the 19th century in a neo-Gothic style by Marquis Marc de Carbonnier de Marzac, thanks to his wife's dowry.

The château houses an exceptional studiolo, decorated in 1679 by Philippe Lemaire with eight panels painted in greyware depicting mythological scenes. This firm, inspired by Italian engravings, illustrates princely virtues or moral lessons, although its exact interpretation remains uncertain. Ranked a historical monument in 1977, it bears witness to the cultural refinement of the period.

A local legend tells us that Thérèse de Saint-Clar, a 16th-century chestnut, would have been strangled alive by her husband after infidelity. His ghost, nicknamed the white lady, haunted from the place, including the north tower and the castle staircase. This story adds a mystical dimension to the site, attracting visitors.

The castle was listed as a historical monument in 1948, and its 17th-century walled chamber was classified in 1977. After the death of Henri de Chérade de Montbron in 2002, his family inherited it and continued to open it to the public. In 2022, it attracted 25,000 visitors, confirming its tourist and heritage appeal.

Finally, Ridley Scott's film Les Duellistes (1977) was set in the castle, highlighting its preserved architecture. Today, it is distinguished by its mixture of military history, legends, and artistic treasures such as the studiolo, unique in Périgord.

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