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Origin and history

The castle of Rauzan, located in the department of Gironde, was built in the 13th century by Jean Sans Terre, king of England and Duke of Guyenne. Built on a site occupied since ancient times, it symbolizes the Franco-English tensions of the medieval period. This castle, with a cylindrical dungeon and seigneurial houses, illustrates the military and residential architecture of the period, with defensive elements such as dry ditches, a barbacan and archeries.

During the Hundred Years War, the castle of Rauzan changed hands several times. In 1377, Bertrand Du Guesclin, a connétable of France, took him back to the English as part of his strategy of methodical reconquest of the Guyenne. The castle then passes into the hands of influential families like the Rudel de Bergerac, the Madaillan, and the Durfort de Duras. The latter gradually abandoned it, and in the 19th century, carriages of Bordeaux extracted stones from the building, causing the partial collapse of its northern structure.

Ranked a historic monument in 1862, the castle of Rauzan fell into oblivion until the 1970s, when the commune and medieval architecture enthusiasts undertook restoration work. In 1993, the enclosure wall of the lower courtyard was inscribed as historic monuments, marking a new stage in the preservation of this heritage. Today, the castle bears witness to architectural changes, from military fortress to seigneurial residence, while preserving traces of its strategic role during medieval conflicts.

The site includes several remarkable elements, such as a 14th-century dungeon with archeries, a seigneurial home renovated in the 15th century, and a flamboyant Gothic tower of honour. The vestiges of the western buildings, including latrines and a staircase towards the round road, recall the daily and defensive organization of the castle. Despite the partial destruction of the northern wall in 1845, Rauzan Castle remains an emblematic example of the Castral architecture in New Aquitaine.

In 1942, the castle served as the setting for Serge de Poligny's film Le Baron phantom, adding a cultural dimension to his history. Its turbulent past, marked by battles, changes of owners and architectural transformations, makes it a place full of history, reflecting the political and social dynamics of the medieval Guyenne and the France of Ancien Régime.

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