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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Roumailhac mansion, also known as the Merigat Hotel or Nanchapt Castle, is a Renaissance mansion built between the 16th century and 1617 in La Tour-Blanche-Cercles, Dordogne. Its quadrangular structure, centered on an inner courtyard, consists of two perpendicular houses connected by a polygonal tower housing a spiral staircase. The facades, decorated with animal sculptures and shrouded windows, reflect the refined architecture of the period, while the front door, with its braided lintel, bears witness to remarkable craftsmanship.

The building bears several names over the centuries, linked to its successive owners: "House of the Marche Dieu" in the 17th century (because of its proximity to the local hall), then Hotel Mérigat, before being renamed castle of Roumailhac in the 19th century after its acquisition by the eponymous family. Partly communal and private property today, it was completed in 1617 by Louis Mérigat, seigneur of Beaulieu, and then transmitted by marriage to the family of Nanchapt. No major changes were recorded between 1617 and the end of the 19th century, thus preserving its authenticity.

Ranked a historic monument since 1948 for its facades and roofs, the castle illustrates the evolution of aristocratic houses in Périgord. The octagonal tower, the animal gargoyles and the carved skylights – one of which is the date of 1617 – underline its exceptional character. A chapel transformed into a 20th century dwelling and a gallery with low arches complete the whole, mixing residential and symbolic functions in the medieval village.

Located on the former Place du Marché-Dieu, the monument also embodies the local economic history, linked to trade fairs and trade. Its architecture, combining defensive elements (tour) and aesthetics (sculptures), reflects the aspirations of the provincial elites under the Valois and Bourbons, between prestige and utility. The sources also mention his role in family alliances, as evidenced by the marriage of the daughter of Jean Carrier, seigneur of Nancré, who transferred the home to the lineage of Nanchapt.

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