Lapoujade Castle dans le Lot-et-Garonne

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Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Lapoujade originated in the work undertaken by Edward I of England around 1289 to make the Lot navigable. In this context, dams and fortified buildings were built by local lords, including the Lustrac, who were responsible for the dam and the castle. These arrangements, financed by an initial sum of 10,000 pounds, were carried out for less than 4,000 pounds before being interrupted in 1294 when Philippe le Bel seized the Agenais. Toll fees and subsequent conflicts, such as the Hundred Years' War, made these castles strategic stakes for local lords.

In 1372, the castle, then a stone and brick tower isolated by a ditch, was reinforced on the order of the Duke of Anjou by Raymond de la Pugeade. In the 15th century, a staircase was added, and the family La Goutte, lords of La Poujade, enlarged the castle in the 16th century by adding a Renaissance gallery. Changes were made in the 19th century, such as the tuning of the second floor and the construction of a barn-stable. The castle, a witness to these architectural and political changes, was finally listed as historical monuments in 2007.

The site is part of a network of dams and castles built along the Lot, reflecting rivalries between the kings of France and England for the control of the Agenese. These infrastructures, originally intended to facilitate river trade, became symbols of local power. The Château de Lapoujade thus illustrates the evolution of a medieval fortification into a seigneurial residence, marked by successive adaptations to the defensive and residential needs of its owners.

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