Château Gascon Du XV° Siècle, Près De Lectoure, Remanié Au XVI° Dans Le Goût De La Renaissance Itali

Built in the 15th century with a defensive appearance, this magnificent castle was remodeled in the 16th century in the style of the Italian Renaissance. Located in the north of Gers, it is a short drive from the renowned towns of Lectoure, Fleurance, and Saint-Clar.

Situated in a quiet location at the end of a peaceful country lane, away from the main road, the property offers a beautiful ensemble of period buildings set in a 3-hectare park adorned with trees of various species. The estate is entirely bordered by forest hedges and a small stream that runs along the park.

A water-filled pond lies at the back of the park, surrounded by large trees (weeping willows, oaks, maples), creating a pleasant walking area.

The main body of the castle includes a large living/dining room on the ground floor, 7 bedrooms, a library/lounge, and an office on the first floor. There are 4 bathrooms, 2 of which have been renovated, and 3 toilets.

The property also includes a fully independent guest house.

The first-floor loggia, in Italian style and resembling a ”gallery,” offers a covered terrace with 6 arches overlooking the peaceful gardens and opening onto a vast panorama, creating a truly enchanting atmosphere.

With a fully restored paved pool area, two dovecotes—one from the 15th century and the other from the 16th century—a large barn, the park is very elegant, featuring a fine variety of mature trees, roses, shrubs, and an orchard.

This property offers a space of great serenity in a unique, completely private location, yet at the heart of one of the most sought-after regions in the Southwest of France.

Let’s look at it in more detail:
The region, the park, the gardens, and the outbuildings

The drive to the property is pleasant, with easy access to the towns of Lectoure and Fleurance. The Agen-Paris TGV line is less than an hour away, and Toulouse-Blagnac international airport is one hour away.

Leaving the villages, the countryside is rich and peaceful, with small roads winding through fields where sunflowers and wheat grow in summer, in a region nicknamed by Stendhal as ”the French Tuscany.”

If Gascony is the Tuscany of France, this property offers all the pleasures of Renaissance Italy. The castle was built by a wealthy Gascon noble family (the Batz, the Castelmore) in the 16th century on a defensive model. It was during the Renaissance, under the then-fashionable influence of Italy, that the castle was remodeled as a holiday and pleasure residence. Thus, defensive and medieval architectural elements (towers, arrow slits, narrow windows) coexist with more ”open” features (large windows, loggias). All have been preserved.

From the outside, the property is hardly visible, as a thick natural and forest hedge surrounds the perimeter of the land. The entrance is closed by two beautiful wrought iron gates, both perfectly in harmony with the castle and marking the entrance with style.

To access the property, the road running alongside the fields belonging to the estate is lined on the right with umbrella pines and a hedge of boxwood and conifers, giving the landscape a very elegant Tuscan character.

The castle is located at the end of a quiet communal road opening onto fields, so there is no disturbance from passing cars, walkers, or pilgrims, except perhaps the occasional hare or deer.

Two entrances are possible: one, majestic, through the large gate leading to the castle facade; the other, more modest, serves the rear side, commonly used as a service entrance. This offers a view of a splendid dovecote on the right. The pool is nestled beyond it, sheltered by walls covered with oleanders and mature olive trees. It is a large 90 m³ basin with a reinforced liner, bordered by stone slabs and a ”beach” area added in 2023.

The well, still filled with water, is adorned with a decorative wrought iron frame dating from the 16th century. Having a water source on the land is always valuable for keeping the gardens fresh and green, not to mention the small river flowing along the lower field.

In total, more than seven hectares of land, five of which are under a commodatum agreement and maintained by neighboring farmers, ensure the tranquility of all residents without risk of unsightly developments. Of these seven hectares, the land around the gardens and guest house includes an orchard (in front of the guest house) with medlars, persimmons, apple trees, cherry trees, pear trees, plum trees, carefully mowed lawns, and mature trees. There is also an ornamental row of topiaries and a small river at the back of the land. The park is rich and charmingly bucolic, planted with centuries-old trees (linden, oak, plane trees, cedar).
La información sobre los riesgos a los que está expuesta esta propiedad está disponible en el sitio web de Géorisques: https://www.georisques.gouv.fr/