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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Lagardère Castle, built around 1270 in the Gers, is an emblematic example of Gascones castral architecture. It was built in a territory ceded by Géraud V, Count d'Armagnac, to Abbé Auger de Condom, with permission to build a fortress there. In exchange, the count reserved the right to house his troops there if necessary. The building, designed by Guillaume de Nerac, remained under the control of the abbots and then the bishops of Condom until 1571, when it was sold to Pierre de Lavardac.

In 1621, the castle passed into the hands of the Maniban family, which kept it until the French Revolution in 1791. Abandoned afterwards, it gradually fell into ruin. Since then, an association has focused on its restoration and study, with the support of historian Christian Corvisier. Ranked a historic monument in 1922, it illustrates the small gasconic fortresses built on the border between English and French territories in the Middle Ages.

Architecturally, the castle presents itself as a parallelepiped slightly trapezoidal, 25 meters long, flanked by square towers and a scald. Despite developments in the 16th and 17th centuries, its original openings (murder, crossbows) were preserved, offering a rare testimony of military art of the time. The ground floor, without exterior openings, served as a pantry, while the upper floors housed shooting rooms and domestic equipment such as ovens.

The site, without ditches or enclosures, reflects a defensive design adapted to local conflicts. Its access, initially provided by ladders or a rudimentary drawbridge, emphasizes its role as a refuge rather than a major stronghold. Today, the ruins are receiving special attention to preserve this unique medieval heritage in Occitania.

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