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Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Langoiran, built in the 13th century by the Seguin d'Escoussans family, stands on a plateau overlooking the Garonne, in the Entre-deux-Mers. These lords, initially vassals of the Benauges, became key actors of the Duchy of Aquitaine, reporting directly to the King of England after 1345. Their alliance with the family of Albret (via the marriage of Amanieu d'Albret and Mabille Seguin) marked a political turning point, linking Langoiran to the Franco-English conflicts. The cylindrical dungeon, one of the largest in France, symbolizes their military power and prestige.

Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the castle changed hands several times, passing to Montferrand and Daffis, families marked by the Wars of Religion. Bertrand III de Montferrand, Baron of Langoiran and lord of many places, married Isabelle de Preissac, heiress of the Sudan of the Trau. Their descendant, Pierre II de Montferrand, married Marie de Bedford (natural daughter of the Duke of Bedford) before being beheaded in 1454 by the French. After the fall of Bordeaux in 1453, Charles VII confiscated the castle before Louis XI partially restored it to the Montferrands.

The Wars of Religion divided the seigneury: Charles de Montferrand, Catholic leader and governor of Bordeaux, stooped to his brother Guy, Protestant leader. Sold to the Arnoul (bourgeois anoblis), then to the Daffis in the 17th century, the castle became an issue of the Bordeaux Fronde. In 1649 the Duke of Épernon incendia blew up the dungeon in retaliation against Guillaume Daffis, leader of the parliamentary rebellion. Abandoned, he fell in ruins until his restoration from 1972 by the association Les Amis du château de Langoiran, founded by M. and Mme Bibonne.

The 14th century dungeon, an architectural masterpiece, houses rare medieval frescoes, including a Last Judgment representing St Michael and St Peter. Its vaulted rooms, adorned with gold leopards (the arms of the Seguins), and its cruciform archeries testify to its defensive role. The castle was also the scene of modern events: in 1944, Commander Rougés handed over the Bordeaux surrender convention to the resistors. Today, the site combines historical heritage and viticulture, with an estate of 23 hectares in AOC Cadillac.

Ranked a historic monument in 1892, the castle illustrates the feudal struggles between Plantagenets and Capetians, then the religious and political tensions of Guyenne. Its architecture combines English (Order de la Jarretière) and French influences, reflecting its tormented history. Recent excavations and restorations have revealed unique elements, such as Seguin's weapons tiles or murals, offering an exceptional witness to medieval seigneurial life.

Finally, the castle inspired the cinema (La Prophetie d'Avignon, 2007) and remains a living place, animated by medieval festivals. Its current association perpetuates the memory of the families who shaped it, from Seguin to Daffis, through the Montferrands, while valuing its wine and architectural heritage.

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