Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Tardes, located in Saint-Macaire in Gironde, is originally a medieval fortress built between the 13th and 14th centuries. Occupying the southwest corner of the city, it overlooks the Garonne with a quadrangular dungeon of 20 m by 25 m, with thick walls of three meters. This castle, with five levels, initially served as a strategic point for controlling the city and the river.

In the 16th century, the castle belonged to the family of Tardes, notably Louis de Tardes, involved alongside Protestants during the capture of Saint-Macaire in 1562. The fortress changed hands several times: families of Arros, Achard, then Ferron (from 1593) became their owners. In 1627, considered costly and unnecessary, its demolition was decided on the advice of the Duke of Épernon and Richelieu, although the process spread until the 19th century (1747, 1837).

In the 19th century, the ruins were transformed into a Renaissance-style mansion, with the addition of sills and a hexagonal "troubadour" tower housing a spiral staircase. Ranked a historic monument in 1997 for its tower and well, the castle today illustrates the architectural and political evolutions of the region, from the medieval period to the modern era.

Among his notable owners, Étienne Achard (squire) sold him in 1593 to Asdrubal de Ferron, whose descendants, the sieurs de Carbonnieux, gave him in 1690 to Louis de Léglise. In 1818, Dominique Faye acquired the castle in ruins, before its partial restoration. The sources also mention its role in the religious conflicts of the sixteenth century, reflecting the local tensions between Catholics and Protestants.

The site, located on Rue du Port Nava, preserves traces of its original fortifications (XII-12th centuries), integrated into the urban enclosure. His history thus combines military defence, political issues (demolition ordered by Richelieu) and architectural adaptations, testifying to the rich heritage of Saint-Macaire.

External links