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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château des Cars, located in the department of Haute-Vienne in New Aquitaine, is a former castle today in ruins. Built mainly in the 16th and 18th centuries, it was one of the most prestigious residences in the Limousin, thanks to its refined amenities and the influence of its lords, the Pérusian family of the Cars. The site, located on a spur of the Châlus mountains, dominates the medieval village of the Cars, born around a chapel and a provost dependent on the abbey of Saint-Martial de Limoges.

Originally, the estate of the Cars belonged to the seigneury of Lastours. It became an independent chestnut in 1479 after a long process of emancipation. In the 13th century, Barry's family owned a hospicium, transformed into a castrum in the 15th century by the Pérusses, after the marriage of Gabrielle de Barry with Audoin Peyrusse. Geoffroy Pérusse, close to the kings François I and Navarre, erected a Renaissance residence in the 16th century, marking the beginning of this artistic period in Limousin. Archaeological excavations revealed luxurious furniture (dishwashers, sculptures, bas-reliefs), exhibited on site.

In the 16th century, François de Pérusse des Cars strengthened the castle's defences during the Wars of Religion, adding an elliptical artillery tower, a ditch, and a peripheral boulevard with pavilions. The entrance chestnut, with a drawbridge, was flanked by two fine towers. The lower courtyard was home to 16th century stables, decorated with equestrian frescoes, and French gardens, completed in the 18th century by terraces. These adjustments reflected both defensive concerns and an aristocratic concern.

The Revolution marked a tragic turning point: the Pérusians emigrated to England, and the castle, seized as a national good, was sold to carriers. They dismantled it to sell the materials, leaving only the south-west artillery tower and part of the master tower. Today, the municipality of the Cars, owner of the ruins, is working on their development with the help of archaeologists. Protected remains include towers, stables classified as Historic Monument, and 18th century elements.

The stables, a rare building of the French Renaissance, are distinguished by their painted decoration (equestrian scenes, medallions) and their architecture (sculpted windows, vaulted cradle). The castle, although partially destroyed, remains an exceptional testimony of the evolution of seigneurial residences between the Middle Ages and the modern era, combining military innovation, Renaissance art, and court life. The objects discovered during the excavations, exposed in situ, complete the understanding of this major site of the Limousin heritage.

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