Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Saint-Blancard, located in Gers in Occitanie, is a building whose origins date back to at least the thirteenth century, with traces of occupation since ancient times. In 1303 an agreement between the inhabitants of Saint-Blancard and Pierre d'Orbessan allowed the construction of a new castle, whose 14th century masonries are still visible today. The site retains medieval elements, but undergoes major modifications, such as 16th century pierces and the birth of the Biron Marshal in 1562, a historical figure linked to the castle.

In the 19th century, the castle was profoundly remodeled by Henri de Gontaut, Marquis de Saint-Blancard, who added a neo-Gothic dungeon and destroyed part of the walls to offer a view of the Pyrenees. After a fire in 1888, the communes and a greenhouse were built, while a carcassonne-inspired enclosure was erected in 1926. The castle played a key role during the Second World War by sheltering works from the Louvre, including Egyptian antiques, saved thanks to the action of Jacques Jaujard and Christiane Desroches Noblecourt.

Sold in 1959 by Armand de Gontaut Biron, the castle became a hospital before being acquired in 1990 by Andrew Harding, a British. Left behind, he was partially saved by an association established in 2000, which organizes regular cleaning. Since 2005, the castle has been partially listed as a historical monument, although its condition remains precarious. Gontaut Biron's family, owner for centuries, has marked its history, as has architectural transformations reflecting successive epochs.

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