Manoir de la Font-Haute
ManorHidden Treasure
Manoir de la Font-Haute, located in Cazoulès (Dordogne), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Manor
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Cazoulès, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8775, 1.4352
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00082455
At the gateway to the Périgord Noir region, this squat 16th-century manor house stands with its two round towers in a green setting. A jewel of seigniorial rural architecture, built around 1580 by an ambitious capitaire.
History
Nestling in the gentle, wooded landscape of Cazoulès, in the Périgord Noir, the manor house of Font-Haute is one of those rural seigneurial residences that embody, better than many famous châteaux, the Gascon art of living at the end of the Renaissance. Far from the ostentatious splendour of the great residences of the Loire, it exudes a sincere, almost carnal robustness that speaks directly to visitors sensitive to authenticity. Its silhouette is immediately recognisable: two large round towers framing the north facade give the building an assertive defensive character, a legacy of a century of Wars of Religion that made architectural caution more than appropriate in the Périgord of the 1580s. Above the main building, a clever tangle of roofs rises to an elegant bell tower topped with its weather vane, adding a touch of verticality and fantasy to an ensemble that is otherwise firmly rooted in the land. Visiting the house reveals an intimate, unspoilt interior, where two monumental fireplaces still stand in the dining room and living room, silent witnesses to the evenings hosted by successive owners. The staircase with its two straight flights, a characteristic architectural feature of the Périgord Renaissance, leads to the upper floors with a sober, efficient logic, far from the spectacular volutes but imbued with a quiet dignity. The natural setting reinforces the emotion of the heritage: gardens, orchards and outbuildings still evoke the organisation of an autonomous seigneurial estate, as conceived by its patron in the twilight of the 16th century. The dovecote, a prestigious feature reserved for gentlemen of rank, completes this picture of an aristocratic rural life that has now disappeared. For travellers in search of authentic Périgord, far from the crowds of the Dordogne valley, Font-Haute is a precious discovery.
Architecture
The Font-Haute manor house is in the tradition of Périgord manor house architecture from the late 16th century, combining the structural robustness and sober ornamentation characteristic of the provincial Renaissance. Its massing is squat and compact, in the image of fortified houses that emphasise solidity over formal elegance. The north facade, which is the most representative, is dominated by two large round towers whose imposing size gives the building an almost defensive presence, a clear reminder of a troubled era. The roof of the main building features a complex and picturesque interplay of interlocking volumes, multi-sloped roofs and internal valleys, crowned by a slender bell tower with its wrought-iron weather vane. This vertical element lends an unexpected lightness to an otherwise solid building. The materials, typical of the Périgord Noir region, include local limestone in golden hues, cut in medium bond for the quoins and bay frames, with mixed masonry for the secondary parts. The roof, which is probably covered with flat tiles or shale according to regional tradition, was altered in the 19th century, when the towers in particular had their crowns altered. Inside, the staircase with its two straight flights is the centrepiece of the layout: sober and functional, it reflects the provincial Renaissance spirit, as distinct from medieval spiral staircases. The two fireplaces preserved in the dining room and lounge bear witness to the care taken to ensure the comfort and decor of the residence, probably with moulded hoods and limestone jambs carved in accordance with the customs of the period. The dovecote, a fully-fledged outbuilding of the estate, is a reminder of the noble privilege of its first owner.
Related Figures
Pierre Catemisse — capitaire au château de Carlux, commanditaire et premier propriétaire du manoir vers 1580Les capitaines du château de Carlux — seigneurs locaux dans l'orbite desquels gravite la Font-Haute au XVIe sièclePropriétaires anonymes du XIXe siècle — responsables des transformations et agrandissements visibles sur les tours et le second corps de bâtiment
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Manoir de la Font-Haute located?
Manoir de la Font-Haute is located in Cazoulès, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Manoir de la Font-Haute built?
Manoir de la Font-Haute dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Manoir de la Font-Haute open to visitors?
Manoir de la Font-Haute is currently closed to visitors.