Château (ruines)

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

The first mention of Lagarde dates back to the 10th century. The first castle is a square tower with, at the corner, a projecting circular tower, built in the 11th century. In the 12th century, four square towers were added, a rectangular entrance postern, the whole being connected by walls with stirrup-shaped arrow slits in the lower section, and crenellation in the upper section. In the 14th century, the building underwent major modifications: creation of a building range behind each facade, raising of the rooflines, creation of a drawbridge, modification of the entrance door and the openings of the dwelling. In the 16th century, construction of the great suspended spiral staircase (1526) with flamboyant Gothic vault. At this period also, the castle was doubled by walls and vaults, a new moat was created with four circular bastions at the corners, entrance with a bastioned drawbridge. Modifications in the 17th century: monumental statues on the bastions and the stair tower, creation of a large esplanade surrounded by fortifications to the south-east, replacement of the entrance drawbridge by a stone bridge with monumental gateway, access ramp starting from the village.