Château Richard Cœur de Lion

The rectangular castle (oriented east-west) Château Richard Cœur de Lion with four corner towers and three wings from the late 11th, 12th and 13th centuries in the north of the town was first mentioned in 1135 in a document between Abbot William of Moissac (Guillaume de Moissac), Vice-Count Saxet of Lomagne and Vice-Countess Sybille of Auvillar. The north wing dates from an older era. The east wing or "English wing" (l'aile des Anglais) with the "English tower" (la tour des Anglais) at the northeast corner is dedicated to Richard I the Lionheart of England, the namesake of the castle. He is said to have inhabited the castle during his 1185 campaign in Quercy and to have commissioned the mentioned extensions. The west wing with its two towers was built by the Abbot of Moissac Bertrand of Montaigu and his successors between 1260 and 1295. The south side is open, the three wings now form an inner courtyard, the main walls around the castle disappeared in the 19th century. In 1791, the castle became the property of the municipal administration. Today it houses the mayor's office.