Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The noble house of Pilets came into being at the end of the 15th century, with the construction of a rectangular house body accompanied by a polygonal tower. This first building reflected the architectural canons of the time, combining defensive and residential function for a local noble family. The materials and the initial plan suggest a desire for social affirmation in a rural context marked by declining but still influential feudality.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the house underwent major changes that altered its original plan. An extension is added on the southwest side, including a rectangular tower at the west corner and potentially a second to the southeast. This phase of work is accompanied by the drilling of new windows, modernising the exterior appearance while meeting increased needs for light and comfort. These transformations illustrate the evolution of provincial aristocracy's lifestyles, now more about comfort than fortification.

The first floor interiors, dated from the 18th century, mark a last significant phase of adaptation of the building. Although less structural than the work of previous centuries, they show a continuing occupation and a willingness to maintain housing in line with the standards of the era. The large stone fireplace, a remarkable element preserved, highlights the seigneurial character of the house, now protected for its facades, roofs and fireplace, inscribed in the Historical Monuments since 1988.

Located in Bourg de Sainte-Radegonde, Gironde, the noble house of Pilets is part of a rural landscape where aristocratic residences played a central role in social and economic organization. These homes served as both a place of residence, an administrative centre for surrounding lands, and a symbol of local power. Their preservation today offers valuable insight into the life of provincial elites between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

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