Château de Barasc
Encyclopedia
The Château de Barasc is a 14th century feudal castle
in the commune
of Béduer
in the Lot département of France. All that remains of the castle, perched on a hillside, are the restored keep
and a tower. It is an example of 14th century Romanesque architecture
.
The castle is private property and is not open to the public.
from 1236 to 1250. Then the castle was the property of the Lostanges family.
. The southern façade includes the most ancient elements of the édifice, notably the 13th century tower and the former belfry
to the right of the entrance. Above the 17th century bossage
-decorated entrance can still be seen traces of the drawbridge. The whole edifice is strongly marked by the decoration of the 17th century:, especially the baluster
s of the courtyard façade and the interior staircase.Some elements of the interior decoration are older, notably the 12th century chimney place in the kitchen, that of the 17th century in the state room, and the spiral staircase. The origin of the castle undoubtedly goes back to the 10th century, but the existing architectural elements, apart from the tower and belfry, are typical 17th century architecture. The bossage entrance porch and the façades, as well as the roof of the keep, were defined as monuments historiques
by the French Ministry of Culture on 25 July 1973.
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 Béduer
Béduer
Béduer is a commune in the Lot département in south-western France.-Pilgrimage:Béduer is situated on the Via Podiensis route that is followed by those making the pilgimage to Santiago de Compostella and so receives pilgrims arriving from the town of Figeac.From Béduer pilgrims continue on either to...
in the Lot département of France. All that remains of the castle, perched on a hillside, are the restored keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
and a tower. It is an example of 14th century Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
.
The castle is private property and is not open to the public.
History
Il was built by the Gonthaud family beginning in the 14th century. Construction was completed around 1515. It belonged to the Barasc family, one of whom, Géraud V Barasc, was Bishop of CahorsRoman Catholic Diocese of Cahors
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cahors, is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church, in France. The diocese comprises the whole of the department of Lot....
from 1236 to 1250. Then the castle was the property of the Lostanges family.
Architecture
The castle buildings surround a courtyard opening onto the valley of the CéléCélé
The Célé is a 104 km long river in the Cantal and Lot départements, south-western France, right tributary of the Lot River. Its source is near Calvinet. It flows generally west through the following départements and towns:* Cantal: Saint-Constant...
. The southern façade includes the most ancient elements of the édifice, notably the 13th century tower and the former belfry
Belfry
The term belfry has a variety of uses:*Bell tower, an architectural term*Belfry, a type of medieval siege tower*Belfry, Montana, a town in the United States*The Belfry, an English golf club...
to the right of the entrance. Above the 17th century bossage
Bossage
Bossage is uncut stone that is laid in place in a building, projecting outward from the building, to later be carved into decorative moldings, capitals, arms, etc...
-decorated entrance can still be seen traces of the drawbridge. The whole edifice is strongly marked by the decoration of the 17th century:, especially the baluster
Baluster
A baluster is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase. Multiplied in this way, they form a...
s of the courtyard façade and the interior staircase.Some elements of the interior decoration are older, notably the 12th century chimney place in the kitchen, that of the 17th century in the state room, and the spiral staircase. The origin of the castle undoubtedly goes back to the 10th century, but the existing architectural elements, apart from the tower and belfry, are typical 17th century architecture. The bossage entrance porch and the façades, as well as the roof of the keep, were defined as monuments historiques
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...
by the French Ministry of Culture on 25 July 1973.