Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Bastidette Castle, also known as Bastide Castle or Bastida Castle in Bengilho, is a medieval building located in Le Ségur, Tarn. Its origin dates back to the 13th century, as evidenced by its characteristic dungeon of this time. The notarial records of 1229 confirm its status as feudal chief town, stressing its historical importance from this period.

In the 15th century, the castle was associated with the family of Monestiés, with Raimond and his son Guillaume cited as lords in 1446. Later, Jean de Monestiés and his son, also named John, were mentioned between 1489 and 1525. In 1593, the lord settled permanently at the castle, despite the tensions of the Wars of Religion, including the threat of the Duke of Joyeuse's troops in 1595.

The architecture of the castle consists of two square wings, with a dungeon of twenty meters high, flanked by a square tower. This almost blind dungeon presents a sled window and undergrounds called "the castle prisons". The interior retains medieval elements, such as a screw staircase and broken arch doors. Surrounding ruins suggest that the castle was once wider.

In the 17th century, the castle passed into the hands of Clayrac's family, as evidenced by the births of Marc-Antoine and Isabeau de Clayrac, respectively, in 1656 and 1705. Just before the French Revolution, the seigneur of Labastidette was a certain Monsieur de Villiers, marking the end of the seigneurial period of the castle.

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