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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Lanquais, located in the Perigord purple in the Dordogne, is distinguished by its architectural duality: a 15th century medieval house, designed for defence, and a Renaissance wing inspired by the Louvre, added in the 16th century. This juxtaposition reflects the political and artistic transitions of the time, with marked Italian influences. The nickname 'Louvre unfinished du Périgord' comes from its resemblance to the Lescot wing, although only a third of the original project was carried out.

The building of the castle spans centuries, from a 13th century fortress belonging to the family of Mons, to major transformations in the 16th century. In 1460, Jean de La Cropte, joined by the king of France after supporting the English, erected the octagonal tower on the ruins of a burned dungeon. The castle then passed into the hands of the La Tour d'Auvergne, a family linked to the Medici and the crown, via the marriage of Marguerite de La Cropte with Gilles de La Tour in 1531. Their son, Galliot de La Tour, undertook between 1561 and 1574 the construction of the Renaissance wing, with architect Pierre Souffron, to display his Catholic allegiance in an area won by Protestantism.

The history of the castle is marked by religious and political conflicts. In 1577, Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Protestant and future Duke of Bouillon, assiège Lanquais with five cannons, pulling 200 balls and interrupting the work. Despite this, the castle became a symbol of power: Henri IV named Henri de La Tour admiral de France (1592), then Marshal (1594). The monumental chimneys, commissioned in 1600 by Italian artisans by Henri and his wife Elizabeth de Nassau, bear witness to this fascist. After 1623, the castle, inherited by Frédéric-Maurice de Bouillon, was gradually neglected before being sold to the Duke of Antin in 1732.

Ranked a historic monument in 1942 for its central body and aisle of abalone, and then inscribed in 2010 for its outbuildings and enclosure, the castle retains intact elements: ceilings, carpentry and carved fireplaces of the sixteenth century. His original plan, inspired by the royal residences, was to double its present size, with a large house body flanked by pavilions. The Renaissance facades, rhythmic by chains and pediments, contrast with medieval mâchicoulis, illustrating the evolution of tastes and techniques.

Prior to the 15th century, the site was successively home to an episcopal residence (Xth–XIIth centuries), a wooden palissade (XI century), then a stone fortress (XIII century) owned by the bishops of Périgueux and then the family of Mons. In 1345, the castle was taken by the English during the Hundred Years War, before being rebuilt. Excavations also suggest prehistoric habitat, highlighting the site's millennium occupation. Today, the castle is visiting and offers a unique testimony to the architectural and political changes of the Périgord.

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