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Origin and history

The Château de Roussillon is a medieval fortress built between the 13th and 15th centuries on the town of Saint-Pierre-Lafeuille, in the Lot. Built at 300 meters above sea level on a hill overlooking the Curade, it was originally composed of eight towers, three houses, a chapel and a cloister. Its strategic location allowed it to control the valleys north of Cahors and the tributaries of the Lot, serving as both a stronghold and a seigneurial residence.

Built on the remains of a 8th century fortress linked to the Duke of Aquitaine, the fortress passed into the hands of the English in 1355 during the Hundred Years' War, when Raymond d'Antéjac, lord of the place, recognized the rights of the King of England over the crown of France. In the 16th century, the castle became a Protestant bastion before welcoming King Louis XIII in 1632, then owned by John III of Gontaud-d Its decline began in the 18th century, when its owners gradually abandoned it.

Partially ruined, the castle escaped revolutionary destruction but was used as a stone quarry in the 19th century. Saved by a restoration initiated in 1958 by the Mailhol family, he recovered part of his original appearance. Since 1929, it has been listed in the Historical Monuments Inventory, demonstrating its heritage importance.

Today, the castle consists of three towers and a large body of houses organized around two inner courtyards, surrounded by moat. Although some of its initial structures (five towers and two houses) have been lost, it remains a remarkable example of medieval architecture adapted to both defence and seigneurial life. Its recent restoration now makes it possible to live.

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