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Origin and history

Fontirou Castle is a castle located in Castella, at the foot of the Truffe Hill, in the current New Aquitaine. Mentioned in 1259 as Monboira (or Monberols), he belonged to the brothers Armand and Gaufred de Fauguerolles. In 1271 he was quoted in an oath of fidelity to the crown of France, confirming his strategic role in the Baylie de Penne. Medieval sources remain rare, however, and its evolution before the 15th century is not well known.

In the 15th century, the seigneury passed to the family of Cours, originally from Agenas. In 1514, Bernard de Cours was the Lord, as the will of Antoine de Cours, parish priest and co-Lord of Lamaurelle attests. The castle then changed hands: in 1526, Robert de Godailh, receiver of the sizes and treasurer of Agenas, became its owner. Accused of tax fraud with his father, Sans de Godailh, he saw his property confiscated before being hanged for Protestantism in 1555, on the denunciation of his cousin Guy de Godailh. Diane de Poitiers then recovered the castle, which she sold in 1564 to the sons of Robert, Jehan and Loys de Godailh.

During the Wars of Religion, the castle was reinforced by a enclosure and round towers. In 1574, a garrison was set up on the orders of Sénéchal François de Durfort. Caught by the Protestants in November 1575, he was taken over two days later by the Catholics of Agen, who massacred the garrison. Released in 1577, Jehan de Godailh then shared the seigneury with his brothers. The castle passed to Pons de Godailh, then to his sister Marie, married to Pierre de Latour in 1593. Latour's family occupied it until the 18th century, setting up sled windows and a fireplace to make it habitable.

In the 17th century, Gratien de Latour, counselor at the aid court, died in a revolt against the gabelle (1635). His brother Pierre, consul of Agen, kept the castle until his death in 1694. The seigneury then passed to the Sevin through the marriage of Marguerite de Latour with Armand de Sevin, before being abandoned in the early 19th century. In 1820, the cadastre attested to the gradual disappearance of the buildings, with the exception of the dungeon. The remains were finally listed as historical monuments in 1990.

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