Medieval origins XIIIe siècle (≈ 1350)
Remains of the first castle (tours, archeries, dungeon).
XVIe siècle
Peaceful development
Peaceful development XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
Less warlike transformations of the building.
1790
Revolutionary fire
Revolutionary fire 1790 (≈ 1790)
Pillow and fire for three days.
7 juillet 1977
First protection
First protection 7 juillet 1977 (≈ 1977)
Registration facades, roofs and staircase.
17 septembre 2024
Total protection
Total protection 17 septembre 2024 (≈ 2024)
Complete classification of the castle and chapel.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Facades and roofs; inside staircase (see E 55): inscription by order of 7 July 1977; The castle of Marcillac in its entirety with its plate plot, its ground and basement (park E 55) and its chapel, located at the place called Marcillac, appearing in the cadastre section E, plots 55 and 668, as delimited in red on the plan annexed to the decree: inscription by order of 17 September 2024
Key figures
Information non disponible - No names cited in the sources
The texts do not mention any specific characters.
Origin and history
The Château de Marcillac, located in the village of Saint-Cyprien on the town of Lendou-en-Quercy (Lot, Occitanie), presents an architecture combining medieval elements and transformations of the 17th and 18th centuries. The building preserves traces of a 13th century castle, such as a quadrilateral flanked by square towers, archeries, cannon guns and the foundation of a brick dungeon. These devices recall its military origin, although less warlike arrangements were made in the 16th century.
In the 17th century, the estate changed owners after a sale, but was looted and then burned down in 1790, burning for three days. The inner courtyard, organized around a spiral staircase in a round tower, served the main rooms to the east and south. A 17th-century staircase, decorated with geometric decorations, angelots and garlands, bears witness to the beautifications of that period. The arches in the middle of the hanger that once structured the court have now collapsed.
The facades, roofs and the interior staircase were inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 7 July 1977. More recently, the castle in its entirety – including its plot, chapel and basement – was protected by a new decree of 17 September 2024. These protections highlight the heritage value of a site where almost five centuries of architectural history overlap, from medieval remains to classical additions.
Available sources, such as the works of Catherine Didon or Claude Goulet, as well as the Mérimée and Monumentum bases, document his evolution. The castle remains a notable example of Quercy's castral heritage, illustrating the transitions between defensive, residential and symbolic functions over time. Its location in Saint-Cyprien, in a preserved rural setting, makes it a witness to the historical dynamics of this part of Occitanie.
