Castle of Mayragues dans le Tarn

Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Mayragues, located in Castelnau-de-Montmiral in Occitanie, is a fortified Renaissance building, built from the late 16th and 17th centuries. It replaces a 12th century medieval castle, itself located on an ancient site where Roman pottery coats were discovered. The current building, rectangular in shape with three corner towers (including a brick scallop), illustrates the architectural evolution between the Middle Ages and the modern era. Its basket handle portal, meneau windows and majestic stone staircase reflect the sober yet elegant Renaissance style.

Ranked a historic monument since 1961 with its wooden dovecote on stone pillars, the castle has undergone restoration since 1980. The owners then highlighted remarkable interior elements, such as painted French ceilings and two chimneys: one decorated with a 1686 painting, and the other with sculptures. The estate, today dedicated to the viticulture in biodynamics (since 1999), produces wines of the Gaillac appellation from historical grape varieties (mauzac, lendelel, duras, braucol). It also houses guest rooms, providing access to the round path.

The dovecote, characteristic of the agricultural estates of Ancien Régime, has an ingenious utility architecture: its stone pillars are surmounted by anti-rat discs, and its carved wood frame supports a flat tile roof. This building, like the castle, bears witness to the dual vocation of the site – residential and wine – since the Renaissance. The wines produced (red, dry white, sweet and effervescent) perpetuate the Gaillac wine tradition, while the recent restoration has preserved an architectural and agricultural heritage.

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