Château de Laroque
CastleHidden Treasure
Château de Laroque, located in Lanquais (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
- Lanquais, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8274, 0.6703
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00082606
A medieval manor house with the feel of an intimate fortress, Château de Laroque in the Périgord region boasts two angled main buildings and a mysterious hexagonal tower, the legacy of a noble way of life in the 15th century.
History
Nestling in the gentle hills of the Dordogne, on the outskirts of the village of Lanquais, Château de Laroque is one of those Périgord manor houses that time has been kind enough to almost forget. Far from the flashy fame of some of its neighbours, it exudes a rare authenticity, that of a building that has survived the centuries without changing, retaining the exact silhouette that the Gascon hobgoblins of the 15th century knew. What is immediately striking is the coherence of the whole: two main buildings set at right-angles to each other, forming a discreet angle that creates an inner courtyard that is both protected and welcoming. One of these buildings is flanked by a hexagonal tower - an unusual shape in the Périgord tradition, which is more accustomed to round or square towers - giving the building an instantly recognisable architectural personality. This tower, which is both decorative and defensive, bears witness to the refined taste of its builders for an architecture that combines elegance and pragmatism. On the north facade, the attentive visitor will discern traces of the site's earliest origins: courses of dressed stone and barrel-vaulted cellars that probably belong to a 13th-century construction, well before the present manor house. This superimposition of ages, visible in the masonry itself, makes Laroque a veritable architectural palimpsest. Visiting Laroque is an intimate, almost confidential experience. Without the crowds of the Périgord's major tourist sites, Laroque invites you to wander slowly, patiently reading the stones and lines. Lovers of medieval architecture will find much to observe here, while photographers will be captivated by the quality of light filtering through the pale limestone facades at golden hours. The natural setting further enhances the charm of the place. The manor house is set in a landscape of hedged farmland and woods typical of the Périgord Blanc region, close to the Couze, the small river that irrigates this corner of the Dordogne. Here, nature and architecture interact seamlessly, offering those who know how to stop a glimpse of deep, unspoilt France.
Architecture
Château de Laroque is part of the great tradition of late medieval Périgord manor houses, of which it is a particularly well-preserved example. Its angled layout - two main buildings meeting at right angles - is the signature of noble domestic architecture that seeks to organise living spaces rationally while maintaining a certain defensive capacity. This layout creates a naturally protected inner courtyard, sheltered from view and the prevailing winds. The most remarkable feature of the building is undoubtedly the hexagonal tower flanking one of the main buildings. This six-sided shape, rare in the defensive repertoire of the Périgord region, denotes a clear aesthetic ambition: the tower is not just a functional appendage, it is also a landmark in the landscape, an affirmation of the singularity of its builders. The walls, built of local limestone - the golden blonde stone typical of the Périgord Blanc region - are carefully crafted, a testament to the quality of the craftsmen employed. Beneath the north facade, the round-arched cellars are the oldest remains on the site, probably dating from the 13th century. These underground spaces, with their robust proportions and thick masonry, are a reminder that Laroque was originally designed as a place of safety as much as a residence. The openings in the manor house - stone mullioned windows, geminated bays on certain levels - bear witness to the Renaissance influences that enriched a fundamentally Gothic building in the 16th century.
Related Figures
Seigneurs médiévaux de Laroque (XIIIe siècle) — bâtisseurs des premières fondations et caves voûtéesFamille noble périgourdine du XVe siècle — commanditaires du manoir actuel et de la tour hexagonalePropriétaires de la Renaissance (XVIe siècle) — responsables des embellissements à la mode italianisanteInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques (1948) — signataires de l'arrêté de protection du 12 octobre
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Château de Laroque located?
Château de Laroque is located in Lanquais, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Château de Laroque built?
Château de Laroque dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Château de Laroque open to visitors?
Château de Laroque is currently closed to visitors.
