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Origin and history

The Château du Bousquet, located in Arcambal (Lot), finds its origins in the 13th century with remains of a borie (agricultural estate) linked to Jean du Bousquet, anobli in 1341. The latter, brother of Cardinal Bernard du Bousquet (archbishop of Naples), reportedly erected the first building. The family of Arcambal, attested as early as 1230 among the consuls of Cahors, marked the local history before the rise of the castle.

The large circular central tower (8.30 m in diameter), the heart of the present building, was built between 1484 and 1525, after the Hundred Years War. Its decorative motifs (pink, peeled sticks) and rib arches reflect the late 15th century architecture. In 1528 Catherine du Bousquet, heiress, married Antoine Deslax, transmitting the estate to this family until the 18th century.

In the 17th century, the Deslax d'Arcambal added the towers of the west facade and a balustrade terrace, modernizing the whole. Ruined, the Marquis Deslax sold the castle in 1787, then changed hands in 1804 and 1816 before reaching the present owners. The building, inscribed in the historical monuments in 1979, retains defensive elements (archeries, irregular towers) and a Gothic staircase.

The basements reveal traces of an earlier brick building (XIIIth–XIVth century), while the master tower, raised after 1650, dominates a promontory overlooking the Lot. Despite unsubstantiated legends (like an alleged command of Malta), the castle illustrates the architectural evolution of a Lotese seigneury, from medieval wars to the Renaissance.

The protected elements (facades, roofs, stone staircase, vaulted room) testify to this historical stratification. The western wings, pierced by shooting slots, recall the defensive features of the contemporary Labastide-Marnhac castle. Today, the site remains a marked example of the feudal and noble heritage in Occitanie.

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