Château de Saint-Urcisse

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 castle of Saint-Urcisse developed on the site of an old fortified house mentioned in the 14th century. The very important and very rich archives kept on site contain plans of the castle of Timbrune-Gineste in the 17th century (construction of brick with wooden steps and earth enclosures said to be ruinous) but also and above all the majority of plans, projects and surveys requested by the intendant Legendre, great renovator of Saint-Urcisse from 1710 to 1727. He is director general of the king's buildings, owns a house in Paris and is in love with "fine Architecture". The numerous names cited around this construction work reveal Legendre's greed who multiplies requests for plans and models: Bassat, Tenière, Roussel, Boisjoly but also Leblond occupied by construction works for Peter the Great in Saint Petersburg, Robert de Cotte, Simon who directs the works of the cathedral of Montauban. The castle bears witness to close and frequent contacts with Parisian circles and still shows fine 18th-century workmanship. Its interior decoration has been preserved despite minor alterations of the 19th century. For the furniture and interior decoration, Legendre also appeals to celebrated artists without being able to complete his work, due to insufficient means for his ambitions. The existence of a garden is mentioned in this place since 1539 without it being possible to specify its nature. Similarly, in 1665, a judicial document mentions an "orchard, a nursery and an alley which is in front of the castle with five elm trees", a succession inventory of 1690 in turn records a "castle composed of its towers, barns and stables, farmyard, dovecote, garden". This document precedes by a little the great campaign of works initiated by Legendre in 1712; the latter brings back in 1715 a gardener to have him make alterations to the terraces constructed at that time. In 1723, a certain Roussel associated with Boisjolly is entrusted with the realization of plans intended to "make the terraces and the garden communicate with the wood in order to dispose of the finest garden in the country". In 1728, the domain is acquired by the brothers Tauriac who continue Legendre's works. Between 1733 and 1740, new plantings such as walnuts, oaks and elm trees are carried out. Later, in 1782, horse chestnuts are planted under the terrace. Between 1804 and 1818, the park undergoes a large-scale restructuring carried out by Michel de Corneillan. The cadastral descriptions record a park in three parts: one in the French style, another in the English style and a last one exotic. Many trees are planted in harmony with a few structures such as the sheepfold, Jany's bench, the dance hall, the basin and the fountain. Between 1858 and 1863 an orangery and a basin on the lower terrace will still be created while certain alleys will be modified and the dovecote demolished.