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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The enclosure of Bruch is a collection of medieval fortifications erected in the 13th century to protect the castrum (castelnau) of Bruch, Lot-et-Garonne. This defensive system, typical of the fortified southwestern bastides and villages, initially consisted of crenellated courtes connecting two gate towers to the north and south ends. These towers, still standing, served as the main access to the agglomeration and illustrated the military architecture of the period, with vaulted rooms, machicolis and spiral staircases. The initial castral motte, considered insufficient, was replaced by this new orthogonal device, reflecting the strategic needs of the local lords.

Bruch's first written mention dates back to 1249, when Arnaud Garsie du Fossat paid tribute to Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse, for the castrum. In 1286, the seigneury passed under the suzerainety of the king of England (duc of Guyenne), as evidenced by the act of recognition of Raymond Bernard du Fossat. In the 14th century, Lamothe's family inherited the fief, but internal conflicts — such as Bertrand de Lamothe's imprisonment by his cousin Jean de Ferréol (1400) — marked a troubled period. The castle and the enclosure then became an issue of the Franco-English wars, remaining under English domination until 1453.

The current remains include the two towers, partially redesigned: the north tower, with geminous bays added in the 16th century, and the south tower, damaged by lightning in 1910. Classified as a Historical Monument in 1906, these structures were restored (1934, 1956), in particular to preserve their defensive elements (mâchicoulis, stairways) and their vaulted rooms. The enclosure thus bears witness to the architectural and political evolution of a medieval village, between occitan feudality and plantage influences.

Beyond his military role, the enclosure of Bruch embodied the seigneurial power of successive families (of Fossat, Lamothe, Castillon, Pardaillan). These lines, often linked to regional conflicts (the Hundred Years War, local rivalries), shaped the history of the site. The north tower, with its square base and circular floor, reveals technical adaptations to resist the sieges, while the archives evoke mixed uses (defence, habitat, prison). The site, today communal property, offers a preserved example of the rural fortifications of the Middle Central Ages.

Historical sources also point to notable anecdotes, such as the captivity of Bertrand de Lamothe (1400–1407), who was locked in the castle's lowfosses by his cousin. Released by Pons VI de Castillon, he bequeathed his possessions to him, before the seigneury passed to the Pardaillan (XVth–XVIth centuries). The latter, close to the crown of France, gradually transform the site, as evidenced by the Renaissance arrangements (geminated bays). The end of the Anglo-French hostilities (1453) and the attachment to the crown (1589) seal the pacified destiny of Bruch, whose enclosure becomes a heritage symbol.

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