Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Lacoste, located in the Black Perigord in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle (Dordogne), is built on the basis of an 18th-century mansion, which was thoroughly renovated in the 19th century. The main building, 30 metres long, has a west façade decorated with a triangular pediment, flanked by two square pavilions. A second, perpendicular house body forms a L-shaped plan, complemented by commons, a court of honor, French gardens and a neo-Gothic chapel. The 18-hectare park, classified since 1969, offers stunning views of the Dordogne Valley and the rival castles of Castelnaud and Beynac, witnesses of the Hundred Years War.

The estate also houses an 18th-century fountain and washhouse, as well as a 3.80-metre menhir. The castle, listed as a historical monument in 1970 for its facades and roofs, served as a decoration in 2011 for the Rani series. Its architecture combines classicism and romantic additions, reflecting stylistic evolutions between the two centuries. The west gate, the pilasters surrounding the entrance and the leafy motifs of the pediment illustrate this syncretism.

The park, in addition to its landscape classification, protects heritage elements such as menhir, rare in this casteral context. The neogothic chapel, a late addition, contrasts with the rigour of the French gardens, highlighting the historical strata of the site. The strategic location of the castle, between Céou and Dordogne, makes it an exceptional point of view on a landscape marked by medieval history and Franco-English conflicts.

External links