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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of the Jarthe, located in Coursac in Dordogne (New Aquitaine), has its origins in the 12th century, although its present structure is mainly the result of reconstructions carried out between the 14th and 16th centuries. Originally noble den dependent on the seigneury of Périgueux, it illustrates medieval defensive and residential architecture, transformed in the Renaissance with elements such as sill windows and an octagonal stair tower. The estate, surrounded by a wall of square enclosure with round path, extends over 125 hectares and includes a curved Gothic chapel and a dovecote on eight columns.

The castle successively belonged to influential families: the Puy de la Jarthe (XIVe–1583), the Chillaud (XVIe–XVIIe centuries), the Saillant (XVIIe–XVIIIe centuries), and the La Roche-Aymon until 1836. In the 19th century, it passed into the hands of local bourgeois families (Bareau, then Dezon by inheritance). Ranked a Historic Monument in 1948 for its castle, chapel and dovecote, the site remained a private property until its acquisition in 2020 by a Parisian company planning to establish a restaurant and an event space. This evolution reflects the contemporary challenges of preserving and converting rural heritage.

Architecturally, the castle consists of a central gallery flanked by two wings (farm and garden), with a closed courtyard once housing outbuildings for staff. The round staircase tower, dated from the 15th century but now unfurled, and the farmhouse body with its hexagonal tower testify to functional adaptations over the centuries. The dovecote, symbol of seigneurial right, and the chapel with radiant vault underline the aristocratic status of the place. Despite modern modifications, such as a Renaissance pavilion near the porch, the ensemble retains remarkable historical consistency.

The location of the castle, one kilometer west of the village of Coursac and ten kilometers from Périgueux, makes it a key part of the heritage of the central Périgord. It stands out from another homonymous castle in Trelissac (charter of the seventeenth century), highlighting the architectural diversity of the region. Its designation as a historical monument in 1948 preserved major elements, although its commercial future questioned the balance between economic value and heritage integrity.

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