Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château-l'Évêque castle came into being in the 14th century, when Adhémar de Neuville, bishop of Périgueux, ordered its construction in 1347 as a summer residence for the prelates. Located in the present commune of Château-l'Évêque in Dordogne, it quickly becomes a symbol of episcopal power in the region. In 1364, the parish was partially destroyed by the English during the Hundred Years War, and in 1412, 280 English soldiers burned down three houses in the village before ravaging the old village of Preyssac, ancestor of Château-l'Évêque. These events illustrate the military turbulence in the region at that time.

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the castle was restored by Gui I de Castelnau, bishop of Périgueux, before suffering a tragedy in 1575: Bishop Peter VIII Fournier was strangled there by his servants. The monument, rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries, preserves defensive elements such as mâchicoulis and octagonal turrets, as well as carved doors dating from the 15th century. The chapel of the castle, where Saint Vincent de Paul was ordained a priest in 1600 by Bishop Francis de Bourdeilles, later became the parish church in the 19th century. These transformations reflect its evolution from an episcopal fortress to a place of worship and memory.

The castle, inscribed in the historical monuments in 1938, now embodies an architectural heritage combining medieval and Renaissance styles. Its facades, punctuated with niches, pinnacles and statuettes, bear witness to the artistic influences of each period of construction. The presence of two octagonal turrets, one of which houses a staircase, and the successive modifications (especially in the sixteenth century) underline its adaptation to the residential and defensive needs of the bishops. The site, located near Périgueux, remains a key vestige of the religious and military history of Périgord, marked by Anglo-French conflicts and struggles between Catholics and Protestants.

Beyond its religious role, the castle is also linked to historical figures such as Jean de Montardie, Catholic captain from Preyssac (former name of Château-l'Évêque) in 1581 to take Périgueux back to Protestants. His occupation by the bishops ceased at the Revolution, but the building retained a symbolic dimension, notably through the chapel where Saint Vincent de Paul was ordained. Today, it is privately owned and accessible to visitors, offering a panorama over five centuries of perigord history, from medieval wars to architectural transformations of the Renaissance.

The geographical and strategic context of the castle is also notable: located at the confluence of the Beauronne and the brook of Mesplier, it enjoyed an advantageous defensive position, while being close to major communication axes, such as the Périgueux-Angoulême road. This location, combined with its episcopal residence status, made it an issue in regional conflicts. The architectural remains, such as the 15th century carved doors or the mâchicoulis, recall this dual vocation, both palatial and military, characteristic of the castles of South-West France at the end of the Middle Ages.

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