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Origin and history

Nages Castle is a castle built around 1356, during the Hundred Years War, to counter the attacks of the Black Prince. Its construction reflects the military tensions of the time, with a clear defensive vocation in the context of frequent regional conflicts.

During the Wars of Religion on 24 February 1586, the castle, then defended by Captain Calvet, was taken by the Huguenots led by Gabriel de Montgomery. Despite a promise of leniency, the Catholic prisoners were massacred at the place called Martinoles, illustrating the violence of the religious clashes of that period.

Following the destruction of the church of Saint Victor, one of the towers of the castle was turned into a bell tower, serving as the basis for the reconstruction of the religious building. This redevelopment testifies to the adaptation of medieval structures to the cultural needs after conflicts.

Property of the Counts of Thézan since its creation, the castle escaped revolutionary confiscation thanks to a matrimonial alliance. He then passed to the family of Lévis-Mirepoix, who sold it at the beginning of the twentieth century. Today, the castle is shared between several owners, including the Rieumontagné Research Centre, which has two towers.

Part of the castle is open to visit and houses a collection of medieval and Renaissance objects. In 2018, the chimney of the Château d'Escroux was transferred there, highlighting the efforts to preserve and enhance the local heritage.

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