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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Vieillecour, located in Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie in Dordogne (New Aquitaine), is a 16th century building built on a site where tradition places the birth of Saint Vaast, catechist of Clovis. It presents itself as an incomplete quadrilateral, surrounded by dry moats on two sides, with a punctuated enclosure of five round towers and a square tower, preserving its mâchicoulis. He has been a member of historic monuments since 1946 and has lost his defensive vocation to become a welcoming home.

Its history dates back to the 12th century, with traces of occupation by notable figures such as Richard Coeur de Lion, who would have found refuge there in 1199 after being wounded in the siege of Châlus, before dying six days later. During the Hundred Years' War, Bertrand Du Guesclin installed a garrison there in 1372 after taking over the city from the English. The castle was renovated between the 15th and 17th centuries, passing into the hands of several noble families, including the Maulmont, Laige, Stuard de Caussade, and Mosnier de Planeau.

In the 20th century, the castle belonged to Marie Sohier, granddaughter of Prefect Adrien Sohier and wife of Marcel Rolland de Ravel, mayor of Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie. Later, it was owned by architect Armand Lejeune. Since 2022, part of the estate has been open to the public in the form of gîtes, while remaining private property. The site retains defensive architectural elements, such as a mâchicoulis round road, despite its successive transformations.

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