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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Bonaguil, located on a rocky spur in Saint-Front-sur-Lémance (Lot-et-Garonne), finds its origins in the 13th century with the construction of a first polygonal dungeon and a rectangular house. This strategic site, although not located on a major commercial route, provided a water point and a natural defensive position. The castle was first mentioned in 1271 in a charter of Philip III the Hardi, then vassal seigneurie of the Count of Toulouse.

In the 15th century, after decades of conflict during the Hundred Years' War, the castle was profoundly reshaped by Bérenger de Roquefeuil (1448–1530). This lord, close to Louis XI, undertook from 1480 an ambitious modernization to adapt the fortress to the progress of artillery. It adds a massive barbacane, cannon guns (104 in total), vaulted casemates, and a sparrow (shooting position in the bottom of a ditch), while preserving medieval elements such as archeries. The works, financed by the fortune of the Roquefeuil, lasted almost 30 years and ended around 1510, while the Loire castles already marked the beginning of the Renaissance.

Despite its increasing military obsolescence in the 16th century, Bonaguil remained a seigneurial residence until the Revolution. Marguerite de Fumel brought amenities in the 18th century, such as a terrace on the old faux-braie and better exposed apartments. During the Revolution, the castle was looted: roofs and woodwork were dismantled in 1794. Rached by the town of Fumel in 1860, it was classified as a Historical Monument in 1862 and was the subject of successive restorations, notably by architect Paul Gout (1882–86).

Today, Bonaguil is remarkable for its flat defensive system (fossed, barbacan, cannon towers) and its exceptional state of conservation, having never undergone a seat. It illustrates the transition between the medieval castle and the bastioned fortifications of the Renaissance. The site has hosted a summer theatre festival since 1962 and attracts more than 60,000 visitors annually.

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