Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Trenqueléon, located in Feugarolles in Lot-et-Garonne, finds its origins in the 13th century with the Trenquelléon family, from the lords of Fimarcon. In 1253 the brothers Bernard and Géraud Trenquelleon, son of Odon de Lomagne, gave tithes to the bishop of Agen, attesting their local influence. In 1284, the castle and its outbuildings were attached to the jurisdiction of the Vianne bastide by an act between Jordan of Lisle and the king of England. The name Trenquelleon thus appears linked to a feudal motte, then to a 15th century tower, still visible today.

In the 18th century, the castle was completely rebuilt in 1771 by Charles de Batz, Baron of Trenqueléon, on medieval foundations. The architecture, inspired by the Chartreuses, combines rigorous classicism (symmetry, terraced gardens) and local originalities, such as curved broken roofs or a curved massive chevron frame, rare in the region. The initials C.B.T. and the date 1771 are engraved in the ground and on a skylight, highlighting this recast. The interior decor, in the style of Louis XV (stukes, carpentry), bears witness to a pre-revolutionary luxury, although ten tapestries with Trenqueléon weapons, perhaps Gobelins, disappeared in 1954.

The castle remained associated with the Batz family until the 19th century. Adèle de Batz de Trenqueléon (1789–1828), granddaughter of Charles, founded in 1804 the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, ancestor of the Marian congregation, making the place a religious symbol. In 1920, the Jasmin d'Argent Prize was created to reward poets in the French and French languages. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1951 (extended in 2015), the estate now includes houses, commons, gardens, dovecote and a chapel, preserving its architectural and spiritual heritage.

The history of the castle reflects the social changes of the Gascogne: first medieval fortress controlled by the lords of Lomagne, it becomes an aristocratic residence under the Batz, then a place of religious memory. Its architecture, between local tradition (slate, honeycombs) and external influences (the "Liberal" carpent), illustrates the cultural exchanges of the Ancien Régime. The 15th century tower, with its archery, and the commons closing the courtyard recall its defensive past, while the salons and gardens evoke its golden age in the 18th century.

The protection of the castle now extends to the whole estate (16 hectares), including hydraulic and landscape elements. Its state of conservation, despite the loss of tapestries, allows us to study a rare architectural transition between the Middle Ages and the modern era. The site, still linked to the Marianist order, also attracts for its literary prize and its role in preserving the gascon heritage.

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