Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Savignac, located in Savignac-les-Ormeaux in Ariège (Occitanie), is mentioned for the first time in 1240 in the will of Bernard V de Comminges. However, his absence in the count of Foix County in 1272 created historical ambiguity. Until the Revolution, the castle and the village belonged to the abbot of Foix, local lord, after having been ceded by Roger I of Carcassonne.

The present castle dates mainly from the sixteenth century, when Jérôme Fornier de Savignac rebuilt it. He then underwent major transformations in the 19th century, notably during the Restoration. The north and west facades, preserved intact, date back to the 15th century, while the south façade, redesigned, has a characteristic forebody. Two pigeon turrets and schauguettes at northeast and northwest angles mark its architecture.

The facades and roofs of the castle have been listed as historical monuments since December 10, 1976. The rectangular building has four floors and a roof of slate supported by crows. A girouette decorated with the coat of arms of the Fornier de Savignac family crowns the building. Inside, a staircase on three floors leads to French ceilings, painted in light grey with red borderers.

The estate includes a large garden and a barn near the entrance gate. The castle, a private property, illustrates the architectural evolution between the Middle Ages and the modern era, mixing defensive elements (scauguettes) and aesthetics (redesigned facades).

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