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Origin and history

The Château de Clermont-Soubiran, located in the department of Lot-et-Garonne in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, is located on the northern slopes of the Garonne valley, above the village of Clermont-Soubiran (formerly Clermont-Dessus). Its history dates back at least to the 11th century, when the seigneury belonged to the Durfort family, the great lords of Toulouse County. Bernard de Durfort, quoted in 1091/1092, and his brother Guillaume are mentioned in acts related to religious donations, confirming their regional influence.

The seigneury of Clermont-Dessus was erected in 1208 as a baronie, then as a marquisat in 1617 for Henri de Balsac, Count of Graville. The Durforts, then the families of L'Isle-Jourdain, Armagnac, and Balsac d'Entragues succeeded as owners. In the 15th century Robert de Balsac, Senechal d'Agenais, acquired the estate, which then took the name of Clermont d'Entraygues. The transmission continued through matrimonial alliances, notably with the Marchin in the 17th century, before a sale in 1711 to Thomas de Gasquet.

The castle retains a medieval base, including a dungeon and a vaulted guard room in the 17th–15th century. In the 18th century, a set of three-level apartments was added to the south terrace. The dungeon, partly of the 12th century, was transformed into a stairwell. The monument, marked by successive renovations, was inscribed in the Historical Monuments in 1960 for its facades, roofs and the guard room.

The archives reveal seigneurial customs, such as the obligation for the lords of Clermont-Dessus to wear the bishop of Agen in a chair at the time of his solemn entry. This ritual also involved the lords of the Fossat de Madaillan, Beauville, Madaillan and Fumel, illustrating the local prestige of these families. The transmission of the estate to Nicolaÿ, then to the Laboria, concludes a rich feudal history, marked by alliances and successive sales.

The current structure combines medieval elements (dnejon, staircase) and classical additions (eighteenth century apartments). The double roller arches on the roof and crows of the 12th century bear witness to its ancient origin. The Wardens' Hall, with its brick vaults from the 17th to 18th centuries, illustrates the interior adaptations over time, in a large medieval work preserved.

The castle, now private property, remains an architectural witness to the transformations between the Middle Ages and the modern era. Its inscription in 1960 protects its most emblematic elements, reflecting a complex feudal and seigneurial history, linked to the great families of Agenas and Gascogne.

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