Château de Larroque-Toirac

This article is about the castle in Lot. For the castle in Haute-Garonne, see Château de Larroque.

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^[1].

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.

See also

• List of castles in France

External links

• Château de Larroque-Toirac
• Ministry of Culture listing for Château de Larroque-Toirac (French)
• Ministry of Culture photos

References and sources

1. ^ Ministry of Culture

• www.culture.gouv.fr

This article incorporates information from this version of the equivalent article on the French Wikipedia.

Coordinates: 44°31′17″N 1°56′23″E / 44.52139°N 1.93972°E / 44.52139; 1.93972