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Key figures

Origin and history

Terraube Castle, built around 1272 for the Galard family, is an emblematic example of the gascon castles. These buildings, with little fortification, are characterized by a rectangular body flanked by square towers, a thickness of marked walls and lower floors initially closed. Originally, the castle included a central core with two towers at the northeast and southwest angles, typical of local seigneurial architecture, designed more for housing than for defence.

Over the centuries, the castle has undergone major changes. In 1308 King Philip the Bel authorized the Lord of Terraube to "rematch" the city, whose remains are still partially visible. The coronation was redone in the 15th century with niches and archeries, each merlon being surmounted by a stone ball. The 16th and 17th centuries saw the addition of commons (1690) and the acquisition of the title of Marquis de Terraube by Jean-Louis de Galard in 1683, marking the climax of family influence.

The enlargements continued in the 18th century, with works led by master masons Guillaume Gras, Jacques Lapeyronie, Dominique Ducasse (from 1768), and Guillaume Aurio and Joseph Labarthe (about 1773), who added two houses. The French Revolution temporarily interrupted family possession: the castle, sold as national property in 1790 to Jean-Marie Depis, was purchased in 1816 by the Viscount of Galard Terraube. Since 1988, it has been protected as historical monuments for its remarkable facades, roofs and interior elements.

Architecturally, the castle illustrates the evolution of the gascon castles, moving from a modest defensive function—based on the thickness of the walls and the hermetogenicity of the lower floors—to an aristocratic residence. The 17th and 18th century developments, such as the addition of classical wings or the re-use of decorative elements (gate and gate of the Ferrières Hall), reflect this transition. Today, the castle remains in the descendants of the Galards, showing a rare seigneurial continuity in France.

The site also preserves traces of the ramparts authorized by Philip the Bel, as well as defensive elements of the 15th century, such as niches and stone pellets adorning the merlons. These details, combined with current monumental protections, underline its heritage importance in the Occitanie region and its role in Gers' local history.

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