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Origin and history

The castle of the Fauga, located in Port-Sainte-Foy-et-Ponchapt in Dordogne, dates from the 18th century. Its name, derived from the old French fauga (fougere), is symbolized by a carved leaf on the lintel of the main door. The building, composed of a central body, two wings and a circular tower with a dome, belonged to Protestant families. After the revocation of the edict of Nantes (1685), its surroundings served as a clandestine place for desert assemblies, forbidden Protestant meetings. The one of 21 February 1745 is particularly documented.

In the 18th century, the castle passed into the hands of the La Coste du Barry family: Marguerite, a unique heiress, married Thimothée de Mélet in 1730. Their son Henry Raymond then inherits it. The estate changed owners several times, including the Josselin families (1820), Barbezières (1869), then Ambassador Jean Morize (1935). In 1882, part of the land housed the agricultural colony of Bardoulets, led by Pastor Paul Ferdinand Martin. Since 1986, it belongs to the Bethmann family and houses a wine farm.

Architecturally, the castle combines a classic style (central body, wings) and defensive elements such as the round tower, housing a staircase to the first floor. The left wing retains a kitchen with a Louis XIV fireplace, while the right wing, a former cowry, ends with an older building. A second nearby building, in colonial style, also bears the name of Fauga Castle but is more like a bourgeois home.

The castle has been partially protected since 22 November 1989: its facades, roofs, and the entrance porch with its retaining wall are listed as historical monuments. Its history reflects the religious tensions of the Ancien Régime, as well as the socio-economic evolution of the Dordogne, between agriculture, viticulture and Protestant repression. The underground assemblies organized on site make it a symbol of Huguenote resistance in Périgord.

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