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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Rochefort-Lavie, also known as the Belhade Castle, occupies the site of an ancient castral motte erected in the 13th century. This first castle served as a seat for a seigneury controlling Belhade and the neighboring parishes (Biganon, Moustey, Pissos, Ychoux). The seigneury, linked to the house of Albret, became the oldest barony in the Landes before being erected as a county. This site illustrates a lasting feudal occupation, justifying its inscription in historical monuments in 2001 for its historical continuity.

In the 18th century, the castle moved from the Pontacq family to the Lavie family (in 1759), which undertook major developments. The current house body, flanked by two square towers on the façade, dates back to this period, as did the enclosure forming a central courtyard. The interior decorations were restored in the 19th century, marking a final phase of significant architectural transformations.

The heritage interest of the castle lies in its historical stratification: from the medieval motte to modern redevelopments, it embodies almost eight centuries of seigneurial and architectural history. Its inscription covers both the current structure and the remains of the feudal motte, stressing its central role in the territorial organization of the Landes since the Middle Ages.

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