Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Villemur Castle, also known as Goubeau Castle, is a mansion built between 1910 and 1919 north of Ax-les-Thermes, in Ariège. He was commissioned by Georges Goubeau, general engineer for talc quarries in Trimouns, and reflects the economic influence of this local industry. Its Anglo-Norman architecture and French-style gardens (later replaced by a wooded park) make it a remarkable example of the regional thermal heritage.

Passed by successive alliances to the Fédou families and then Villemur, the castle kept its furniture from 1900 until 2018, the date of its auction. Purchased by the town hall of Ax-les-Thermes, it is now registered with the thermal heritage of Occitanie. A high-end hotel project on part of the park, mentioned in 2019, aims to strengthen the city's tourist attraction.

With more than fifty rooms spread over 770 m2 and four floors, the castle is distinguished by its thermal water heating, a legacy of its link to local resources. Its 3.8 metre ceilings and dedicated spaces (kitchens, water rooms, stays) testify to the luxury associated with the industrial era and the technical elites of the time.

The history of the castle is inextricably linked to that of the Luzenac talc mines, whose three successive owners (Goubeau, Fédou, Villemur) were all general engineers. This professional continuity illustrates the strategic importance of this industry to the region, while anchoring the monument in a close family and technical network.

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