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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Salignac, located in Salignac-Eyvigues in Dordogne (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), has its origins in the 10th century with Geoffroi de Salignac, first lord certified around 980. The first stone constructions appeared in the early 11th century, including a master tower with flat buttresses and walls surrounding the feudal motte. This castrum, mentioned in 1251 under the name castrum of Salenhac, was then a coseigneuria shared between several noble families (up to 10 simultaneously), such as Lagarde-Salignac or Ferriere. The châtellenie depended on the diocese of Cahors and grouped several surrounding parishes.

During the Hundred Years' War, the castle suffered repeated destruction, held in turn by the English and French. A major reconstruction campaign was carried out in the 15th century under the leadership of Antoine de Salignac, partially transforming the building. The seigneury then passed to the Gontaut in 1545 through the marriage of Jeanne de Salignac with Armand de Gontaut, founding the Gontaut-Salagac branch. The 16th and 18th centuries saw the castle change of hands (Montmège, Noailles) before its acquisition in 1912 by the Salignac-Fénelon family. Ranked a historic monument in 1969, it is now being restored to its 15th century appearance.

Architecturally, the castle combines a 12th century polygonal enclosure (buttress wall, scauguettes added to the 16th century) and a Renaissance house with a square tower and superimposed chapels (XII and 16th centuries). The site, built on a rocky spur, included a primitive dungeon and an entrance chestnut. After centuries of abandonment, recent works (since 2006) have restored the structure, the roof of lauze, and several rooms. In 2021, four rooms were open to the public; fourteen will be in 2025. The castle illustrates the evolution of a medieval fortress as a seigneurial residence, marked by conflicts and family alliances.

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