Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Montastruc, located in the municipality of Lamonzie-Montastruc (Dordogne), has its origins in the 13th century, on a site occupied since prehistoric times, as evidenced by the underlying troglodytic habitats. The medieval castle, dominating a rock above the Caudeau, was shaved in 1438 by order of Charles VII after the beheading of his owner, a member of the family of Abzac de la Twelve, lieutenant of the King of England in Guyenne. Reconstructed in 1475 after restitution to the family, in 1568 he received a siege by Blaise de Monluc during the Wars of Religion, before being taken over by Catholics the following year.

The major transformations of the 18th century incorporated classical elements into the feudal home, with interior decorations and the addition of a second building in return for square, attached to the medieval structure. The 15th century oratory, partially preserved, and the stone bridge replacing the old drawbridge date from this period. The castle, a private property, was partially listed as a historical monument in 1973, then in total in 2001, including its outbuildings ( stables, dovecote, park renovated in the 19th century).

The site also played a role during recent historical episodes: in 1849 it welcomed Abbé Audierne, vicar general of the bishop of Périgueux, before his expulsion in 1861 by the heirs of the Marquise de Lostanges. During World War II, Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg took refuge there during her exile from Germany. Today, the castle preserves the remains of the thirteenth, fifteenth and eighteenth centuries, mixing medieval substructures, feudal towers and classical amenities.

Architecturally, the castle consists of a renovated medieval house, flanked by three towers and an 18th century pavilion, surrounded by moat. The outbuildings (grange, oratory, cluzeau) and the park, protected since 2001, complete the whole. The site, built on a rocky base, illustrates the evolution of defensive and residential techniques, from the mâchicoulis of the Middle Ages to the classical frontons.

The family of Abzac of the Twelve, linked to the castle from the 14th century, was dispossessed before its reconstruction in 1471. The siege of 1568 by Blaise de Monluc, and the capture by the Sénéchal of Périgord in 1569, underline its strategic importance during religious conflicts. The 18th and 19th century layouts (park, scenery) reflect its adaptation to aristocratic uses, before its classification as a historical monument.

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