About Guilleragues Castle
The early 14th century Château de Guilleragues is a medieval castle in the commune of Saint-Sulpice-de-Guilleragues in the Gironde département of France.
Guilleragues Castle history
Château de Guilleragues was built in many stages, with the oldest parts and foundations dating back to the 12th century. However, little is known about this earlier structure, and more obvious are the parts built in the 14th and 16th century. The building is also thought to have been 2 or 3 separate structures initially, which were later joined together.
Major changes took place in the 1560s, where windows and doors were enlarged or added, and many decorative features appeared on the building, changing the castle from a fortified structure with defence as its main function to a liveable, more luxurious stately home.
A large, intricate relief above the main entrance is resplendent with columns and symbols, a sign of this vast building program. The year ‘1564’ is inscribed on the family coat of arms, which is also found dotted throughout the castle. It is the combination of Lavergne and Lestonnac arms.
The best known occupants of the castle are the De Lavergne family, who owned the castle in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the latter, Gabriel-Joseph de Lavergne occupied the castle. He was the Vicomte de Guilleragues, and a brilliant diplomat and author.
Guilleragues Castle today
Privately owned, Guilleragues Castle has been listed as a monument historique since 1954 by the French Ministry of Culture. It is not currently open to the public, but may be seen from the nearby road.
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