Château de Gramont

The castle belonged to Simon IV de Montfort, leader of the Albigensian Crusade. He donated the lands of Gramont and the castle to his crusade lieutenant, Odon de Montaut. The castle became a fortress in the 14th century with the construction of the Gothic entrance, then between 1535 and 1545 a beautiful Renaissance wing was built, placed at a right angle to the old castle, after the marriage around 1492 of the last representative of the House of Montaut, Françoise de Montaut de Gramont (daughter of Géraud and granddaughter of Odon XII-VIII), with Guillaume de Voisins, descended from Pierre II de Voisins. Its owners, Mr. and Mrs. Dichamp, donated the castle to the Centre des monuments nationaux. The facades and roofs, as well as the large reception room and the straight interior staircase, are classified as historical monuments by decree of February 21, 1973; the rest of the castle has benefited from an inscription since April 1, 1947.

Access to the Château de Gramont is through a châtelet with a porch surmounted by Gothic-style sculptures. The current castle was built in the 14th century on the remains of an earlier castle and comprises two parts, a Gothic part and a Renaissance wing. Once past the châtelet, one accesses the Renaissance wing with mullioned windows. A ribbed vaulted, helical staircase without a central core leads to a small oratory. The rooms have retained their original pavements, monumental fireplaces, French ceilings, and period furniture. Of the old castle, only a fortified tower remains: the Simon de Montfort tower.

List of historical monuments of Tarn-et-Garonne List of castles of Tarn-et-Garonne

Official website

Resources related to architecture: Mérimée Structurae

Portal of castles of France Portal of French historical monuments Portal of Tarn-et-Garonne Portal of the Central Middle Ages