Château de Lasserre dans le Lot-et-Garonne

Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Lasserre, located in the department of Lot-et-Garonne, was built between 1595 and 1602 by Jean-Paul d'Esparbès de Lussan, Sénéchal d'Agenais and Governor of Blaye. This residential castle, designed by the Parisian architect Marin de la Vallée, marks a break with earlier defensive constructions, reflecting the end of the wars of religion in Agenais (1595). The works, documented by preserved contracts, mobilized local and Parisian artisans, including master mason Marin de la Vallée and his successor Paul Vaudoyer, architect of monumental chimneys.

Prior to its construction, Jean-Paul d'Esparbes de Lussan had acquired seigneurial rights and lands around the site, notably from the bishop of Condom in 1582. The castle, completed in 1602, remained in the family of Esparbes de Lussan until the 18th century, before passing to the Narbonne-Pelet, then to the Digeon de Monteton by marriage in 1754. The latter retained it until 1835, when it was passed on to Léopold de Gervain, who undertook restorations.

The Château de Lasserre illustrates the post-Renaissance architectural evolution, combining Parisian influences (stairs, fireplaces) and local know-how. Ranked a historic monument in 1926, it also bears witness to the matrimonial and land strategies of the regional elites, as evidenced by the alliances between the Montagut, of Esparbes de Lussan, and Narbonne-Pelet. The archives reveal a rigorous organization of the site, with detailed contracts for the fittings, floors, and sculptures signed between 1595 and 1598.

The inscription engraved in 1596 by Marin de la Vallée in the south-west pavilion ("M. DE LAVALLEE / ME MASSON / A PARIS.MA / FAICTE 1596") attests to his central role, although his young age and his Parisian origins remain mysterious. The replacement of the Valley by Paul Vaudoyer in 1598 coincided with the finalization of the interior elements, such as the three monumental chimneys, inspired by those of the castle of Cadillac. These details underline the importance of the artisanal networks between Paris and the province.

The site of Lasserre, originally linked to the seigneury of Bruch (a tribute to Alphonse de Poitiers in 1259), became a symbol of local power under the Esparbes of Lussan. The transmission of the estate by inheritance or marriage (Catherine-Bernarde de Montagut in 1570, Suzanne de Narbonne-Pelet in 1754) reflects the social dynamics of the Ancien Régime. The castle, now protected, thus preserves both architectural and genealogical memory.

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