Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Saignes is a medieval building located in the Lot department, in Occitanie, at the top of a hill at 401 meters above sea level. It dominates the valley of the creek of Saignes, a tributary of the creek of Bio, and is located at the intersection of the hamlet of Labadrie, on the road between Bio and Aynac. Its strategic location offers stunning views of the surroundings, reflecting its historic defensive role.

The family of La Garde, originally from the Viscounty of Turenne in Limousin, acquired the castrum of Siogna in 1379. Bertrand de Lagarde, from this line, settled in Saignes and founded the branch of The Guard of Saignes. This family, whose members hold influential positions such as Cardinal (Géraud de La Garde) or Archbishop (Étienne and Guillaume de La Garde), deeply marks the history of the castle. In 1504 Barthélemy de Lagarde declared that he owned "a house and an old tower.".

The present castle was rebuilt in the 16th century by Pierre IV de Lagarde, adviser to the Parliament of Toulouse and diplomat under Francis I. His missions, such as the embassy in Poland or the negotiation of the king's ransom after the Battle of Pavia, illustrate his prestige. His son, Louis de La Garde, and then his grandson, René, perpetuate the family's military and political heritage, notably by fighting the Huguenots in Guyenne. The castle, besieged and damaged, was finally abandoned in the 19th century.

Listed as a historic monument in 2002, the castle of Saignes has been under restoration since 2013. The work allowed to reconstruct the structure of the house, the mâchicoulis of the dungeon, and the roof of the chapel. Although the last descendant of the family, Henri de La Garde, died in 1923, the site is now open to the public, offering visits and an educational path dedicated to local wildlife.

Architecturally, the castle consists of a seigneurial house flanked by a dungeon and a square tower, complemented by outbuildings and a chapel. Its history, linked to an influential noble family, makes it a major testimony of the Quercy heritage, between seigneurial power, religious conflicts and contemporary renaissance.

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