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Origin and history

The castrum of Cazals, attested as early as 1196 in the Treaty of Gaillon between Philippe Auguste and Richard Cœur de Lion, was a strategic issue during the conflicts between the kings of France and England. Built by the lords of Gourdon to control the ancient roads between Cahors and Villefranche-de-Rouergue, it became a cazali (fort + town + barris) after the settlement of inhabitants under their protection. The seigneury, divided between the Cazals, War and Bonafos families, was seized by Simon de Montfort during the Albigois Crusade (1209–129) in retaliation for their support of the Count of Toulouse.

In the 13th century Cazals passed successively under French royal rule, then English after the Treaty of Paris (1259), before being ceded to Alphonse de Poitiers. The Treaty of 1287 formalized its attachment to England, marking the beginning of a troubled period: occupation by the armies of the Prince of Wales (1355), transformation into English fort by Philip of John, and destruction during the Hundred Years War. The castrum, in ruins in 1442, was repopulated by limousine and auvergnatian families under the aegis of the lords Gourdon-Themines and Salignac-Gontaud.

From the 15th century, the family of Salviac de Vielcastel partially rebuilt the castle, integrating a Romanesque tower and adding a square house. Their motto, "Quam vetus est castrum origo" ("So old is this castel that is unknown the origin"), reflects its complex history. The castrum, marked by the wars of Religion (the Vielcastel remained Catholic), was sold in 1794 by Charles de Salviac, the chamberlain of Josephine. Joined the Historic Monuments in 1994, it was restored by private owners from 1972.

The medieval defensive ensemble, now called Haut-Cazals, preserves major remains: the Saint-Martin Castral Chapel, the bases of the War House, the tower of La Roque, and ostals (strong houses). The city, surrounded by medieval houses, also housed the noble hotel of Gontaud-Saint-Geniès (XV century) and buildings like Castel-Rougié. Excavations reveal thick masonries, which are witnesses to the reshuffles of the 16th-17th centuries.

The castrum illustrates the political changes of Quercy: passing from the hands of the local lords to the French crown, then English, before its definitive return to the royal domain. Its architecture combines Romanesque influences (initial tower), gothic influences (reshuffles) and classical influences (ceiling to 17th century French). The religious conflicts of the 16th century and the French Revolution also left their mark, with destructions and changes of owners.

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