Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Badenfols-d'Ans, located on a rocky spur in the Black Perigord, has its origins in the 13th century, although the site has been occupied since the Gallo-Roman era. Originally built by the Badefol family, it was first mentioned in 1292 as the Badefou den. In 1368, the Prince of Wales, then master of Limousin after the Treaty of Brétigny (1360), offered the castle to Bertran II de Born, lord of Hautefort and knight who had fought the English under the reigns of John II, Charles V and Charles VI. This transfer is in the context of the Hundred Years' War and the struggles of influence in Aquitaine, where the Viscounty of Limoges, in debt, is partially sold to repay the creditors of Jeanne de Penthièvre.

In the 15th century, the castle was renovated with the addition of sill windows and a round path, reflecting the architectural and defensive evolutions of the era. In 1548, Jeanne d'Albret, the future queen of Navarre, offered the seigneury to her husband Antoine de Bourbon, marking his integration into Bourbon possessions. The seventeenth century saw the addition of a side wing and a terrace by the family of Royère, then its passage into the hands of the Bonneguise family, which brought Badefols together with its estates of Artigeas and La Chapelle. In 1752 (or 1762) Louis XV raised the ensemble in marquisat, consolidating his prestige.

The castle experienced a tragic turning point during the Second World War: on 1 April 1944, the Brehmer division arrested the owners, Count Jehan de Lestrade de Conty and his son Louis, members of the Resistance (OCM network), before looting and burning the castle. Jehan died on deportation to Buchenwald. After the Liberation, the monument was restored as war damage. Today, it retains elements from the 14th, 15th and 17th centuries, as well as a park built in the 19th century. Enlisted as historical monuments in 2007, it illustrates almost seven centuries of history, from medieval conflicts to resistance.

The architecture of the castle combines medieval vestiges (heavy walls, round path) and classical additions (roof at the Mansart, terraces). Its strategic location, dominating the plain, made it a key control point in the Viscounty of Limoges, swayed between the crowns of France and England. The succession of its owners — from local lords to noble families such as the Bourbons and the Royères — reflects the political and territorial stakes of the Périgord, between feudality, Renaissance and Revolution.

The protection of the castle in 2007 covers the main building, its masonry terrace, its footbridge and the enclosed garden, excluding the communes. Private property, there remains a testimony of the architectural transformations and historical upheavals that marked the southwest of France, from the Hundred Years War to the Liberation.

External links