Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Trenqueléon Castle, also known as Trenquelléon or Trenqueléon, originated in the 13th century as a feudal motte belonging to 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 the local anchor of this lineage. In 1284, the castle of Feugarolles and its dependencies were attached to the jurisdiction of the bastide of Vianne by an act involving Jourdain de Lisle and Othon de Lomagne. These medieval documents reveal the strategic and seigneurial importance of the site, linked to the Trenquelleon family, itself from the lords of Lomagne and Fimarcon.

In 1313 Bernard Trenquelleon de Lomagne, heir to a line of Fimarcon lords, married Allemane de Cazenove, consolidating the local noble alliances. The following centuries saw the estate pass into the hands of influential families, such as the Broqua in the 17th century. Joseph du Broqua, Baron of Trenquelleon, died in 1703, leaving an only daughter, Anne, who married François de Batz in 1708. This marriage marked the beginning of Batz's family domination over the castle, with figures such as Charles de Batz (1712–87), reconstructor of the castle in 1771 on feudal remains.

The present castle, built by Charles de Batz, has architectural elements of the eighteenth century, including an engraved skylight of the date 1771 and initials C.B.T. in pebbles in front of the entrance. In the 19th century, Batz's family remained linked to the estate, with Leopold de Batz (1816–?), Mayor of Feugarolles and General Councillor. The last heir, Charlotte de Batz (1873–1939), married Bélisaire Albigès, then transmitting the castle to the families of Benzmann and Batiste. In 1920, the castle hosted the creation of the Jasmin d'Argent Prize, rewarding gascon poets.

Protected as historical monuments since 1951 (façades and roofs), and extended in 2015 to the entire estate, the castle of Trenqueléon embodies a feudal and classic heritage. Its history reflects the social changes of Gascogne, from medieval lords to modern elites, while maintaining a cultural function, as evidenced by the literary prize always associated with its name.

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