Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Verlhaget has its origins in a large farmhouse completed in 1619, gradually transformed into a seigneurial residence. In 1645, the archives already mention a large two-storey building with a pierced facade of fourteen openings, marking its evolution towards a more noble status. The current structure, which has been largely redesigned, retains traces of this initial period, particularly in its spatial organization and foundations.

In the 18th century, the castle underwent major modifications to adopt a style more in keeping with the cannons of the time. The facade is enhanced by a row of balusters at the beginning of the 20th century, imitating a roof on the terrace, while the crepi leaves the brick on the corners and cornices, highlighting an aesthetic bias combining hardiness and elegance. At the back, the less regular prescription testifies to additions or topographic constraints.

Inside, decorated around 1735, houses a remarkable Louis XV ensemble, whose alleged author is the father of the painter Ingres. This decor, concentrated in the boudoir, the dining room and the living room, gave the castle partial protection by decree of 19 March 1979, covering these rooms as well as the facades and roofs. A small southern building, an old porch for carriages, recalls the practical uses of the era, linking functionality and prestige.

The castle thus illustrates the transition between an agricultural farm and an aristocratic residence, typical of the social dynamics of Tarn-et-Garonne in the 17th and 18th centuries. Its hybrid architecture, between rural heritage and noble ambitions, makes it a rare testimony of this pivotal period in the region.

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