Logo Musée du Patrimoine

All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château en Haute-Garonne

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine défensif
Demeure seigneuriale
Château de style Renaissance
Haute-Garonne

Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château

    172 Le Château
    31430 Saint-Élix-le-Château
Private property
Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château
Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château
Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château
Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château
Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château
Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château
Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château
Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château
Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château
Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château
Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château
Crédit photo : Original uploader was Paternel 1 at fr.wikipedia - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
1540-1548
Construction of the castle
14 septembre 1545
Glassware contract
1847
Partial restoration
1927
Historical Monument
1945
Fire and looting
1994
Classification of the fleet
2019
Acquisition by the State
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Castle: inscription by decree of 31 January 1927; Castle Park, including the orangery and garden, fence walls, stables, pond and dovecote (cad. C 54, 68-72, 74, 75, 85-90, 280, 92-94, 96, 249, 73, 279): entry by order of 3 February 1994

Key figures

Pierre Potier de la Terrasse - Sponsor and original owner Secretary of François I, President of Parliament
Laurent Clary - Architect of the castle Author of the plans, also known for the Capitol
Joseph Gressier - Master glassmaker Realized the stained glass in 1545
Marquis de Montespan - Famous owner Spouse of Louis XIV's favorite
François Lucas - Sculptor of the eighteenth century Author of the statue of the "Commander"
Claude Cambou - Modern restaurant restaurant Renovation in the 1980s

Origin and history

The Château de Saint-Élix-le-Château was built between 1540 and 1548 for Pierre Potier de la Terrasse, secretary of François I and president of the Toulouse Parliament. Designed by the architect Laurent Clary, it symbolizes the success of its sponsor, combining medieval details (disappeared stallions) and Renaissance elements. The stained glass windows, signed by Joseph Gressier (1545), and the chimney of the École de Fontainebleau, decorated with the coat of arms of the Saint-Lary and Berthier families, bear witness to his initial fascist.

Over the centuries, the castle changed hands: the Marquis de Montespan, husband of Louis XIV's favourite, added an orangery and stables. His son, the Duke of Antin, sold him to Archbishop Jacob, who oversaw the writing of the history of Languedoc. Barons Ledesme (18th century) enriched with marbles, gold taps and works by sculptor François Lucas, including the statue of the Commander. After the Revolution, the ditches were filled and the roofs destroyed.

In the 19th century, the Carrère families, heirs of traders, preserved the castle as a place of culture, with a library and a Science Fair. The estate then passed into the hands of the Polish princess of Lubomiriski and Mrs Paul Fournes. Requisitioned during World War II, he was partially burned in 1945 and looted. Restored in the 1980s by Claude Cambou, it was put on sale several times (2014, 2018, 2022) before being acquired by the state in 2019, which has since tried to separate it.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1927 (castle) and 1994 (park, orangery, stables), the estate houses a remarkable regular garden. Since 1989, he has hosted the Rencontres botaniques, an exhibition of rare plants, suspended since 2017. A private collection (Carrerere family) preserves archives, statues and objects of the castle, waiting for museum enhancement.

The architecture, although altered (disappearance from the second floor after the 1945 fire), preserves brick facades, partially restored round towers (1847), and an abundant carved decoration. The iconic animals on the glacis and sills of the windows recall its past grandeur, between medieval heritage and Renaissance innovation.

External links