Château de la Treyne
CastleHidden Treasure
Château de la Treyne, located in Lacave (Département 46), 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
- Lacave, Département 46, Occitanie
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8495, 1.5254
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00095288
Perched on a rocky spur above the Dordogne, Château de la Treyne combines the Lot Renaissance with English-style gardens designed by Édouard André in an exceptional natural setting.
History
Perched some forty metres above the emerald waters of the Dordogne, Château de la Treyne is one of the most spectacular sites in the Quercy region. Its elegant silhouette, a blend of round towers and Renaissance buildings, is reflected in the river with a grace that seems to come straight out of a romantic painting. Listed as a Historic Monument, it is the perfect embodiment of the discreet nobility of Lot architecture. What makes La Treyne truly singular is the superimposition of its historical layers, which are visible to the naked eye: the medieval remains of the first fort, the Renaissance reconstruction following the Wars of Religion, the refinements of the 18th century and finally the Belle Époque touch of the interiors of the early 20th century. Each room is a palimpsest of centuries of French art de vivre. The visit is an experience that matches the setting. The grand salon impresses with its monumental wood-carved fireplace, its three niches framed with lions' heads and its sumptuous coffered ceiling painted in azure and gold - an atmosphere worthy of the finest residences in the region. The salon vert, with its 18th-century moulded wood panelling, offers a more intimate, almost confidential atmosphere. The English-style park surrounding the château is a destination in itself. Designed in 1910 by Édouard André, the great French landscape architect whose work includes the Parc de la Tête d'Or in Lyon, it is a masterful blend of indigenous and exotic species, cleverly designed views over the valley and hanging gardens on the edge of a precipice. Photographers and nature lovers alike will find the light and framing exceptional, particularly at dusk when the sun sets the limestone cliffs ablaze.
Architecture
Château de la Treyne is an admirable example of a Quercy noble residence that has gone through several cycles of construction and remodelling. The current building is principally the result of a reconstruction carried out in the last quarter of the 16th century, in the spirit of the provincial Renaissance: the elongated dwelling, topped with a steeply pitched roof typical of the south of Toulouse, is flanked by a round corner tower that adds a defensive touch inherited from medieval architecture, while being treated with the sober ornamentation typical of the Lot Renaissance. The mullioned windows, the dormer windows punctuating the roof and the careful matching of local white limestone give the whole a measured elegance. The setting on the rocky spur is in itself a major architectural feature: the castle seems to spring from the cliff, its foundations blending into the natural limestone in a fusion of nature and architecture typical of medieval defensive sites. This situation also determines the irregular layout of the complex, adapted to the constraints of the terrain. The interiors reveal the wealth of successive additions. The highlight of the visit is the grand salon, whose painted coffered ceiling - decorated with azure and gold motifs and punctuated with cabochons - evokes the great decorations of the late French Renaissance. The monumental carved wooden fireplace, with its three niches, expressive lion's heads and inverted brackets, bears witness to the skills of the regional carpenters and sculptors of the early 20th century. A 14th-century stone fireplace, preserved in the study adjoining the former kitchen, is a reminder of the age of the site and the continuity of its occupation.
Related Figures
Famille de la Ramière — seigneurs propriétaires du château aux XVIIe siècle, ayant marqué son histoire aristocratiqueÉdouard André — célèbre paysagiste français, auteur du parc à l'anglaise dessiné en 1910Seigneurs de Lacave — premiers détenteurs du fief médiéval sur lequel le fort primitif fut établi
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Château de la Treyne located?
Château de la Treyne is located in Lacave, Département 46 department, Occitanie region, France.
When was Château de la Treyne built?
Château de la Treyne dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Château de la Treyne open to visitors?
Château de la Treyne is currently closed to visitors.