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Origin and history

Recoles Castle, located on the edge of the Olip in Recoles-Previnquières (Aveyron), has its origins in the Middle Ages. As early as the 13th century, the seigneury belonged to the family of Garceval, which transmitted it by covenant over several generations. The Aymeri are followed from the 13th to the 16th century, marking the history of the place by strategic marriages with the families Ricard, Prévinquières or Caylus. The lineage died with Marie Félicie de Garceval, whose marriage in 1742 with Philibert Louis de Lastic Saint-Jal moved the estate to this new family.

In the 18th century, the castle entered the Lévezou de Vézins family by the marriage of Mary Claudine de Lastic with Francis III in 1765. The estate remained in this vein until 1853, when Baron Marc-Antoine-François de Gaujal acquired it and gave it its present appearance. The latter, historian of Rouergue, transforms the building into a neo-medieval castle with four bodies of houses confined by towers, while preserving ancient elements such as the 17th century gate. The interiors, redesigned, house painted decorations, marked parquet floors and canvases, reflecting the eclectic taste of the 19th century.

The castle, listed as a historical monument in 2001 for its facades, roofs and remarkable rooms (living room, library, gallery), preserves traces of its successive owners. The coat of arms of the Garceval, Lastic and Gaujal families, described in the sources, testify to this turbulent history. After the Baron de Gaujal, the estate passed to Miss Capelle, granddaughter of Baron Capelle, before becoming a private property not open to the visit. The archives mention its role in local life, between medieval seigneury and modern aristocratic residence.

Historical sources, such as the works of Hippolyte de Barrau or studies of the Marquis de Valady, underline the importance of the castle in the history of the Rouergue. Its architecture, mixing Middle Ages and 19th century transformations, makes it a characteristic example of the Aveyron castles. The protected elements (stairs, dining room, parrot room) illustrate this duality between medieval heritage and recent embellishments, typical of the noble residences of the region.

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