Château de Larroque-Toirac
Encyclopedia
The Château de Larroque-Toirac is a mediaeval castle
in the commune
of Larroque-Toirac
in the Lot département of France. Its origins goe back to the 13th century and it was modified at various time up to the last quarter of the 17th century.
Hanging from the side of a high cliff, dominating the village and the valley of the Lot River
, in an exceptionally defensive site, the castle, which was on several occasions taken by the English, has preserved its mediaeval defence system.
Built as a fortified site in the 13th century, an enceinte
was developed during the 14th. A new castle was built in the second half of the 15th century. Decoration from around 1515-1531 survives, as well as work carried out in the 17th century.
The seigneurial residence, where the original kitchen remains, includes very beautiful chimneys from the 15th century as well as frescos from the 16th century. The cliff behind the castle contains caves which served as trogloditic
habitations in ancient times.
The castle entered the Wagner-Autesserre family in 1923. Previously, it had been used by the town hall of Larroque-Toirac as a school or accommodation for teachers.
In 1926, the castle was added to the supplementary list of historic monuments by the French Ministry of Culture, though this was later annulled. It was classified as a monument historique
in 1995.
Though privately owned, the castle is open to visitors every summer.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
in the commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Larroque-Toirac
Larroque-Toirac
Larroque-Toirac is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France.Overlooked by a medieval castle, the village lies halfway between Figeac and Cajarc in the valley of the Lot River....
in the Lot département of France. Its origins goe back to the 13th century and it was modified at various time up to the last quarter of the 17th century.
Hanging from the side of a high cliff, dominating the village and the valley of the Lot River
Lot River
The Lot, , originally the Olt , is a river in France, right tributary of the Garonne. It rises in the Cévennes, flowing west through Quercy, where it flows into the Garonne near Aiguillon, a total distance of...
, in an exceptionally defensive site, the castle, which was on several occasions taken by the English, has preserved its mediaeval defence system.
Built as a fortified site in the 13th century, an enceinte
Enceinte
Enceinte , is a French term used technically in fortification for the inner ring of fortifications surrounding a town or a concentric castle....
was developed during the 14th. A new castle was built in the second half of the 15th century. Decoration from around 1515-1531 survives, as well as work carried out in the 17th century.
The seigneurial residence, where the original kitchen remains, includes very beautiful chimneys from the 15th century as well as frescos from the 16th century. The cliff behind the castle contains caves which served as trogloditic
Caveman
A caveman or troglodyte is a stock character based upon widespread concepts of the way in which early prehistoric humans may have looked and behaved...
habitations in ancient times.
The castle entered the Wagner-Autesserre family in 1923. Previously, it had been used by the town hall of Larroque-Toirac as a school or accommodation for teachers.
In 1926, the castle was added to the supplementary list of historic monuments by the French Ministry of Culture, though this was later annulled. It was classified as a monument historique
Monument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
in 1995.
Though privately owned, the castle is open to visitors every summer.