Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Lavardens came into being in the 12th century, with a first mention in 1140 as a medieval fortress controlled by the Counts of Fezensac, and then Armagnac. John I of Armagnac made him his residence at the beginning of the 15th century, establishing his archives there and seeing his wife Odile of Goth die there. After the fall of the Armagnac in 1473, the castle, contested by Charles I of Armagnac, was finally taken by the royal troops in 1496, then abandoned until its ruin.

In the 17th century, Antoine de Roquelaure, close to Henri IV, began his reconstruction from 1620 on medieval foundations, with architects Pierre Souffron and Pierre Levesville. The death of Roquelaure in 1625 and an epidemic of plague in 1653 interrupted the work, leaving the castle unfinished. Sold in 1752 to the Marquis de Mirabeau, then in 1765 to the Pins family, it was loti in co-ownership in 1852 before falling into ruins, its roof sank in 1923.

Saved in extremis from the destruction in 1957 by local opponents including Vincent Steux, the castle was classified as a historical monument in 1961. Its restoration, initiated by volunteers of the Club du Vieux Manoir and supported by the State from 1970 onwards, makes it possible to organize exhibitions there today. The building combines medieval vestiges (story vaulted, murderous) and Renaissance elements (tourelles, balconies), offering a panorama of the valley.

The architecture combines a main rectangular body and non-defensive square turrets, designed for enjoyment. Seventeen rooms on the floors had brick and limestone pavements with various patterns. The bell tower of the present church, former medieval dungeon, recalls the military origin of the site. The western facade, with its trunks and corbellations, illustrates a rare technical feat for the period.

The restoration revealed traces of the two major phases of the castle: the 13th century fortress, with its vaulted rooms in a cradle, and the unfinished Renaissance residence. The work of the 20th century, led by enthusiasts, allowed to stabilize the structure and highlight its contrasting history, between seigneurial power, decline and heritage renaissance.

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