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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Longas Castle is a medieval building located in the commune of Sainte-Foy-de-Longas, in the northeast of Bergeracois, Dordogne. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, it replaces a former noble den called Longacum, mentioned as early as 1156 when it was given to the Abbey of Cadouin. Today, its ruins testify to its past importance, although its western part is in ruins, while the eastern house and the stairway tower remain habitable.

The castle was listed as historic monuments on 6 December 1948, recognizing its heritage value. Its architectural peculiarities include a round road on crows, partially interrupted by skylights. An anecdote reports that the ramp of his staircase was reused in Bergerac's courthouse, illustrating the transformations suffered by the monument over the centuries.

Originally, the site was a noble den, typical of the local fortifications designed to control the territory and shelter a minor seigneuriality. The donation to the Abbey of Cadouin in 1156 suggests close links between secular and religious power in the region, characteristic of the feudal organization of the time. The damage suffered by the castle over the centuries reflects the historical tumults of the Dordogne, between wars and gradual abandonment.

The current, though fragmentary, remains offer an overview of the defensive and residential architecture of the late Middle Ages. The stair tower, still standing, and the living parts of the oriental home allow to imagine the original spatial organization. The site, although not accessible, remains a valuable testimony of the Castral heritage of New Aquitaine.

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