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Origin and history

The House of Sénéchal, located in Bourdeilles, Dordogne, is a mansion built between the 15th and 17th centuries. This stone and limestone stone house features Gothic elements, such as a trilobed bay, and classic additions, including a 17th-century door decorated with a senechal helmet. The steep roof in flat tiles and the polygonal turrets, half of them hors-oeuvres, illustrate its architectural evolution. Two modern pavilions surround the inner courtyard, while an elevated terrace dominates the old castrum ditches.

Originally referred to in 1451 as the Hospitium de Helias, this manor house served as a seat for the seinechaux of the Bourdeilles baronie. The changes visible on the Napoleonic cadastre reveal the addition of the pavilions and the structure of the courtyard, accessible from the south. The facades and roofs, protected since 1971, retain rampants decorated with hooks (XV century) and a 17th century balustrade. A round tower and commons complete the ensemble, mixing medieval heritage and subsequent adaptations.

The building reflects the transformations of a seigneurial house, marked by its administrative and residential role. The presence of the senechal helmet in the tympanum of the door confirms its historical use, while the ditches and the slope of the terrain recall its integration into the old castrum. Defensive elements (towers, talted wall) coexist with comfort features, such as the terrace and windows across, reflecting a continuous occupation over three centuries.

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