Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Bayac Castle, located on the left bank of the Couze in Bayac (Dordogne), preserves two 14th century towers, including a crenelée sheltering the Queen's chamber attributed to Aliénor d'Aquitaine. This defensive ensemble, partly remodeled in the 18th and 19th centuries by the addition of a house body, is completed by a cobbled scaffold and a square dungeon with screw staircase. The building then lost its original military character, despite a circular tower dated from the 16th century (source to be confirmed).

Originally, Bayac was a châtellenie belonging to the archbishops of Bordeaux from the 14th century, before passing into the hands of the families of Grailly and then Serval. The Bosredon, lords in the 16th century, suffered the ravages of the Wars of Religion: in 1580, the Protestant captain Chaus de Monsac seized the castle, massacred Pierre de Bosredon and looted the place. The destruction continues under the English, the Huguenots and the Sire de Bannes.

In the 17th century, the Losses joined the Bosredons and occupied the castle during the Revolution without emigrating. Colonel de Losse, mayor of Bayac, took the oath to the Republic in 1795. His descendant, Henri de Losse, remained mayor until 1904. In the 20th century, the castle became a place of political resort (Daladier, Reynaud) under the Gaboriot era, before being transformed into a holiday colony by the city of Paris in 1957. Joined the Historic Monuments in 1970, it was put on sale in 2010.

The architecture combines medieval elements (mâchicoulis, ravens, Renaissance skylight) and classical additions (logis à la Mansard). The round tower, capped with pepper, has a round road on crows, while a 16th century skylight decorated with pilasters and a triangular pediment bears witness to stylistic developments. The square dungeon, with its corbelled turret, houses a vaulted staircase.

Successive property of the Armant, Hulin and Ossul families after 1904, the castle was acquired around 1925 by Gaboriot, director of L'Ere nouvelle, who received there the political elite of the Third and Fourth Republics. During World War II, General Gamelin took refuge there before his arrest. Sold to an individual in 1957, the estate (80 ha) was sold to the city of Paris to become a holiday colony, before it was put on sale in 2010.

External links