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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The fortified Ybourgues farm, located in Limans in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, is a monument whose origins date back to at least the thirteenth century. The first mentions of the Ybourgues appeared in 1207 during an exchange between the bishop of Sisteron and the canons of Cruis concerning the Church of St Mary. Castrum is cited in 1249, 1268 and 1271, associated with this church, revealing an ancient occupation and a late castral function. From 1271, after a dispute with the Vilana family, the bishops of Sisteron became co-teachers of the Ybourgues, sharing this seigneury with that of Limans until the Revolution.

The site evolves over the centuries: acquired in two stages (1293 and 1308) by the bishops, the castle loses its military vocation to become a farm. The Forbin-Janson, a noble family, became its owners in 1609. Architectural analysis reveals two phases of near construction, probably in the late 13th or early 14th century, with cradle vaults and broken arched doors. Subsequent changes (refend walls, drills) date from the modern period, but the medieval aspect remains thanks to its continuous agricultural use.

Partially classified in 1978, the farm is fully listed as historical monuments in 2019. Its dovecote and facades, as well as the entire castle and surrounding parcels, are now protected. The site illustrates the transition between a place of episcopal power and a farm, reflecting the seigneurial and agricultural dynamics of the region.

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