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Origin and history

The Château de la Trave, built in the early 14th century (c. 1306), is a powerful medieval fortress located in the commune of Préchac, Gironde. Built by Arnaud-Bernard de Preyssac, it stands on the heights of the left bank of the Ciron gorges, near a bridge over the river. Its elongated architecture (40 m), framed by square towers and protected by ditches, reflects its strategic defensive role. A lower court in the northwest doubles its area, while a natural precipice reinforces its isolation.

The origins of its destruction remain uncertain. According to the sources, he was shaved in 1456 by order of Charles VII after the arrest of Pierre de Montferrand, his owner rallied to the English during the Hundred Years War. Another hypothesis evokes damage during the wars of Religion in the 16th century. Today, only one wall of the central dungeon remains, while the rectangular enclosure and its corner towers are partially visible.

The remains of the castle have been listed as historical monuments since 22 December 1987. The site, free of access, offers an architectural testimony of the conflicts that marked the medieval Guyenne. Its elongated plan, ditches and low courtyard illustrate the defensive techniques of the time, while its location near the Ciron underscores its strategic importance in the region.

The fortress initially consisted of a rectangular main enclosure, reinforced by square towers at the angles, and of a low-court belted with a courtine. The missing dungeon occupied the centre of the enclosure. The current ruins, though fragmentary, allow us to imagine the extent of this military construction, typical of the gascon castles of the late Middle Ages.

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