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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Montemart Castrum, also known as the Montemart estate, is a former fortified site built in the 11th century on the heights of the village of Malemort (formerly Malemort-sur-Corrèze), in Corrèze. It belonged to the Malemort family and initially consisted of a rectangular granite dungeon, reinforced by three foothills on each side, as well as an adjacent building embedded in the rock, probably a housing body. Traces of an earlier construction, such as a stone wall in foundations, suggest an earlier occupation of the site.

In the 14th century, the castrum was abandoned when Malemort's family moved into its new castle, built in the centre of the village (Brenige Castle). The ruins worsen with time, and in the middle of the 19th century, the Hom family, the owner of the premises, erected a house today dilapidated. In 2003, the town hall of Malemort-sur-Corrèze acquired the parcels to secure the remains, which are now limited to the south-west and south-east sections of the dungeon, the floor traces, and the entrances of troglodytic cellars.

Castrum is listed as a historical monument by order of 13 August 2012, with the exception of Hom House, which is threatened with destruction. Protected remains include dungeon ruins, surrounding plots, and troglodytic elements. The site illustrates the evolution of a medieval fortress into a domain partially reinvested in modern times, before its contemporary preservation.

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