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Origin and history

The Château de Clauzuroux, located in Champagne-et-Fontaine in Dordogne (New Aquitaine), is a 17th and 18th century building built on the presumed site of a medieval mansion. It belongs to Faucher's family as early as the 16th century, as evidenced by a 1556 certificate. The estate is characterized by a square plan of 50 meters side, with an inner courtyard, two round towers dated from the seventeenth century, and a gate marked from the date 1701. The central house, framed by mansard roofed pavilions, illustrates the classical architecture of the era, with a facade on courtyard more worked than the one on garden.

The castle is surrounded by outbuildings organized around the courtyard, including a covered well, a water mill (previously fed by the Pude River via a bay today dried up), and a remarkable water staircase. In the east, a French-style garden accessible by a bridge extends the harmony of the estate, while a dovecote and a house of the administrator complete the whole. The estate, partly located on the nearby communes of Cherval and La Chapelle-Grésignac, is protected by two stops of inscription to the historical monuments: the castle in 1947, then the park, gardens and outbuildings in 2002.

Sold as a national property in 1789 during the Revolution, the castle was later bought and converted into private property. Today, it houses guest rooms and cottages, while preserving historical utility elements such as the mill mechanism. A 1776 plan, drawn up by a geographer engineer of the king, attests to the presence of the French garden in the axis of the castle, reflecting the 18th century landscape arrangements. The building, combining residential and agricultural vocations, embodies the evolution of perigord manors between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

Architecturally, the castle combines classicism and medieval heritage: the commons, extended by circular towers spared during the Revolution, define a square courtyard evoking the original environment. The facade on garden, more sober, contrasts with the facade on courtyard, rhythmized by windows and skylights. The mansard roofs, the Louis XIV balusters of the terrace, and the triglyphs of the gate (dated 1701) highlight the influence of Renaissance and classical styles. The estate, ranked among the most beautiful examples of the 18th century Perigord manor house, bears witness to the social and aesthetic transformations of the rural nobility.

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