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Origin and history

The ruins of Malgin Castle, located in the village of Montagne in Gironde, date from the 14th and 15th centuries. This monument, classified as a historical monument in 1978, is a former strong house built in 1330 by Gaillard de Malengine, under the permission of Edward III, King of England. The site, which was occupied in the Gaulish era, as evidenced by fragments of carved flint, was a strategic issue during the Hundred Years' War, oscillating between the French and English parties.

In 1363, Aymeric de Malgin, squire, took an oath to the Prince of Wales in Bordeaux, illustrating the moving alliances of the then gascon lords. In 1420, the castle, then held by a supporter of Charles VI, was besieged by the pro-English Bordelais. The latter use giant bombardments, including one throwing 7 quintal balls, to reduce the fortress. Despite its initial resistance, the castle falls, marking a turning point in its military history.

In the 15th century, the castle passed into the family of Lur-Saluces through the marriage of Pierre de Lur with Isabelle de Montferrand in 1472. The barony of Malgin remained in this line until the 17th century, when the site, in dispute, was gradually abandoned. The current ruins reveal a 14th century square dungeon, a Gothic chapel with ribbed vaults adorned with arms of the Montferrands, and ditches carved from the rock. The original access, through a narrow underground corridor, and the remains of fortifications adapted to artillery (bastions, flares) testify to its defensive evolution.

The description of Leo Drouyn in the 19th century highlights the picturesque character of the ruins, perched on a rocky spur overlooking a valley. The site, although less monumental than other girondine fortresses such as Rauzan or Villandraut, retains a major archaeological interest. Its defensive elements (double cuts, raised dungeon, shooting terrace) and its history of Franco-English conflicts make it a rare testimony of medieval military architecture in Aquitaine.

Today, the ruins, private property after the sale by Marquis Bertrand de Lur-Saluces, continue to deteriorate slowly. The chapel, the most preserved part, and the bases of the buildings offer an overview of seigneurial life and military adaptations in the face of the emergence of artillery. The site, which is listed in the historical monuments inventory, remains a historic site, although its access and conservation pose challenges.

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