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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Lavagnac, located in Montagnac in the Hérault, is a 17th and 18th century private building. Built between the 2nd quarter of the 17th century and the 1st half of the 18th century, it belonged before the Revolution to the Count of Polastron, inherited from his mother Yolande of Mirman. In 1770, it was sold to the princes of Conti, then passed to Jean-Maurice de Faventines de Fontenilles, a farmer-general from the Vigan. The estate, with 180 hectares overlooking the Hérault valley, is nicknamed the " Versailles du Languedoc" for its terraces and majestic facade.

By succession, the castle enters the Daudé family of Alzon, then into the Chastenet of Puységur and the Suarez of Aulan. In 1987, it was bought by Japanese billionaire Hideki Yokoi, without maintenance. Since 2006, the estate has been the subject of speculative real estate projects, including one in 2018 providing 360 villas and a 5-star hotel, after delays due to financial scandals involving promoter Antonio de Sousa.

The castle was partly listed as a historical monument in 1951 (interior of orangery, stables, courtyard), then classified in 1973 for its facades, roofs, terraces, and gardens. In 1986-1987, he served as a set for the film Les Saisons du plaisir by Jean-Pierre Mocky, who was named Caesars in 1989. A box embroidery, added in the 1960s by Madame de Suarez d'Aulan, still embellishes the ordered garden.

Historical sources mention two construction campaigns: the first between 1622 and 1640 (tower castle and east courtyard), the second in the 18th century (added stables, orangeries, terraces and fountains). The site, initially a medieval mansus linked to the monastery of Aniane, became in the 16th century property of the Marquis d'Arènes, then of the Mirmans, lords of Adissan, who launched its current construction.

Despite its prestige, the castle suffered periods of negligence, especially after its acquisition by foreign investors and the legal difficulties of the promoters. Recent projects aim to rehabilitate it into a luxury tourist complex, although their implementation remains uncertain. Its ranking and history make it a major architectural testimony of Languedoc.

The estate, with its pool, fountains and balustrades, illustrates the evolution of aristocratic residences in Occitanie, between classical influence and adaptation to Mediterranean landscapes. Its orangery and stables, protected since 1951, underline the importance attached to dependencies in the major areas of the Ancien Régime.

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