Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Busqueilles, located in Autoire in the Lot department (Occitanie region), is a mansion built at the hinge of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. He belongs to the Sirot family, born of the nobility of robe, with Jean de Sirot (1590-1676) and his son James (1633-1731), who held the position of king's adviser to the senechal of Martel. The late Renaissance building is distinguished by its two houses connected by a square staircase tower, typical of the civil architecture of the period.

In the 18th century, the mansion underwent major changes reflecting the evolution of tastes and the alliance of the Sirot with the Lascaze family, as evidenced by the joint coat of arms on the entrance door. The amendments include the addition of triangular pediments, the widening of the openings of the southern house, and the preservation of original elements such as the stone screw staircase. The lauze cover, characteristic of the Haut-Quercy, and an adjacent dovecote complete the whole.

Partially classified as historical monuments since 1991, the castle retains remarkable elements: facades, roofs, the staircase in screws, as well as two chimneys (one marble rock, the other monumental stone). Its history is documented by local sources, including the work of Catherine Didon (1996) and recent heritage records. The armoured shield, rediscovered in the garden, highlights the links between the local noble families.

The site, initially accessible by a monumental portal now gone, illustrates the way of life of the little provincial nobility under the Old Regime. Its architecture combines residential functions (logis, gardens) and symbols of power (armors, bretech), typical of the Quercy manors of this period. The accuracy of its location remains medium (level 5/10 depending on the heritage bases).

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