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Origin and history

Magnas Castle, located in Gers in Occitanie, is a 16th-century building profoundly transformed until the 19th century. It is located in the commune of Magnas, former seat of the Barony of the same name, whose origin dates back to the family of Galard in 1304. The eastern part, the oldest, was built by the family of Saint-Géry between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The castle changed hands several times, passing from Sérillac to La Valette, then to Lacarry, Taffanel de Jonquières and Noé, before returning to the Galards in 1785.

In the 18th century, Joseph de Galard-Pellehaut, having bought the estate, placed there the dowry of his wife Marie de Vignes, which allowed the castle to escape revolutionary confiscation. He had the present house built. His son, Louis-Raymond-Charles, emigrated during the Revolution, returned to settle there after 1799. Between 1881 and 1884 major works were carried out by architect Clément Parent, pupil of Viollet-le-Duc, and by Courau, especially for the north facade and the stone staircase of Angoulême.

The architecture of the castle consists of three building bodies around a court of honor, with defensive elements such as round and square towers. The interior houses a monumental staircase and fireplaces from Flamarens Castle. Although the French-style gardens had disappeared, the park preserved rare species and an orangery built in 1840. The castle, partially protected since 1993, illustrates the evolution of architectural styles and seigneurial uses in Gascony.

The Barony of Magnas, originally called Manas, was an important fiefdom for local noble families. Successive marriage alliances, such as that between a descendant of the Galards in 1885 and Count Hector de Galard-Saldebru, marked his history. The 19th century transformations, inspired by the neo-Gothic and the principles of Viollet-le-Duc, reflect the aristocratic tastes of the era, mixing medieval heritage and modern comfort.

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