Château de Fages
CastleHidden Treasure
Château de Fages, located in Saint-Cyprien (Dordogne), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Castle
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Saint-Cyprien, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8768, 1.0414
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00082822
Metamorphosed from a medieval fortress into an elegant Renaissance château, Fages raises its two square pavilions and its battlemented wall walk at the heart of the Périgord Noir, a silent guardian of the Wars of Religion.
History
Perched in the rolling landscape of the Périgord Noir near Saint-Cyprien, Château de Fages embodies several centuries of the Dordogne's troubled history. Originally a medieval fortress dating back to the 12th century, it was radically altered between the late 16th and early 17th centuries to adopt the elegant language of the French Renaissance, while retaining the indelible marks of the conflicts that took place there. What makes Fages truly singular is this palpable tension between the ornamental grace of the Renaissance and the defensive robustness of a residence that has experienced fire, pillage and explosion. Attentive visitors will notice this duality inscribed in the stonework: on one side, the mullioned windows finely framed by Ionic pilasters topped with pediments in the south pavilion, evidence of aristocratic refinement; on the other, the parapet walk pierced with loopholes resting on ornamental brackets, a reminder that beauty and war coexisted unashamedly in Guyenne. The architectural composition of the château, built around two large square pavilions joined by a central building, is clear and balanced, typical of the architecture of the late provincial Renaissance. The corner turret flanking the north pavilion adds a picturesque touch to the whole, breaking with symmetry to better assert the age of the site. Visiting Fages also means allowing yourself to be enveloped by the melancholy atmosphere that is typical of buildings that have come so close to oblivion. Abandoned at the end of the 19th century, the château went through a long period of silence before being protected as a Historic Monument. This patina of time, far from being a defect, gives the site a rare authenticity that is often irretrievably erased by too-smooth restorations. The natural setting of the Périgord Noir, with its evergreen oaks, limestone cliffs and tranquil rivers, sets Fages apart from the rest, where history is evident in every detail of the façade and the imaginary world of the Wars of Religion is never far away.
Architecture
Château de Fages is composed of two imposing square pavilions, joined by a central building set slightly back. This tripartite layout, symmetrical in principle but enhanced by the corner turret on top of the north pavilion, bears witness to a coherent reconstruction phase carried out at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries in the style of the French Renaissance in the provinces. The decorative treatment is of remarkable quality for a rural Périgord castle. The south pavilion features the most sophisticated ornamentation: the mullioned windows - characteristic of the French Renaissance - are framed by pilasters with Ionic capitals supporting alternating triangular and arched pediments, a direct reminder of the architectural vocabulary inherited from Antiquity via Italy. The care taken with the fenestration indicates the cultural ambition of the de Fages family, who were keen to display their modernity while anchoring their home in the local tradition of Périgord limestone. The most spectacular and distinctive feature of Fages is the parapet walk that crowns the entire roof. Pierced with functional loopholes, it rests on a series of moulded brackets with ornamental decoration, a subtle alliance between military necessity and the desire to embellish - a perfect synthesis of the spirit of the late Renaissance, which had not yet given up on defence while indulging in the pleasures of ornament. The materials used, local limestone in golden hues, blend naturally with the landscape of the Périgord Noir.
Related Figures
Boson de Fages — compagnon de Jeanne d'Arc, né au château selon la traditionAnne de Fages — châtelaine qui accueillit Blaise de Monluc pendant les guerres de ReligionBlaise de Monluc — maréchal de France, beau-frère d'Anne de Fages, stratège des guerres de Religion en GuyenneLe seigneur de Limeuil — chef de bande huguenot qui prit et fit partiellement détruire le château vers 1574-1575La famille de Fages — seigneurs bâtisseurs qui transformèrent la forteresse médiévale en château Renaissance
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Château de Fages located?
Château de Fages is located in Saint-Cyprien, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Château de Fages built?
Château de Fages dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Château de Fages open to visitors?
Château de Fages is currently closed to visitors.