Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Soult-Berg was built between 1829 and 1835 for Marshal Soult, Minister of War and native of Saint-Amans, and his wife Louise Berg. Built by a regiment of genius, it combines their names and symbolizes their union. The estate, including a 40-hectare park inspired by Napoleonic battlefields, was designed to evoke the victories of the First Empire.

The castle, with a rectangular plan with two forebodys, houses rooms (library, living rooms, dining room) and private apartments. A theatre, inspired by Fontainebleau's, was added in 1864. The period furniture, including gypseries and wallpapers, was preserved. The park, planted with rare species like the Virginia tulip tree, was classified in 1995.

Ranked a historical monument in 1995 (after partial inscription in 1983), the castle passed by inheritance to the Reille family. During the Second World War, he served as a meeting place for resistance fighters. Today, he bears witness to the legacy of Marshal Soult, Duke of Dalmatia and peer of France, as well as the influence of his descendants on local politics.

The alleged architects, Renié (collaborator of the Marshal in Paris) or Perchain, remain uncertain. The estate, initially 516 hectares with farms and brickworks, reflected Soult's economic ambition. The park, conceived as a symbolic reconstruction of battles, illustrates its attachment to the Napoleonic era.

The chapel, the theatre (80 places with painted decor) and the houses of the servants complete the interior organization. The column hall, the mixed staircase (stone and wood) and the terraces highlight the intimate and representative character of the castle, combining privacy and military memory.

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