The ducal castle of Cadillac embodies the omnipotence of Jean-Louis de Nogaret de la Valette (1554-1662), first Duke of Epernon, favorite of Henry III, who made him Duke and Peer of France, but not only. You might be surprised, once again, the Girondin heritage can be curious and unpredictable.
Say, tell me the story of the ducal castle of Cadillac
Jean-Louis de Nogaret de la Valette knows an extraordinary destiny and a meteoric rise: we hope to be able to tell you before the end of course bell rings, but his fall will only be heavier. Colonel general of the infantry, governor of many provinces, he built a castle commensurate with his rank, far from the court. Opposed to Richelieu, the Duke died in disgrace during the reign of Louis XIII. His son Bernard, second duke of the name, completed the work undertaken: central pavilion, main building, a wing here, a fence there, and the renovation of the castle was completed.
Perched on a limestone peak, on the site of the old feudal castle and on the right-of-way of part of the bastide, the ducal castle of Cadillac was erected and decorated from 1598 to 1620. It is one of the first examples of French architecture.
This magnificent residence received the most illustrious visitors in the XNUMXth century: Louis XIII, Anne of Austria, Richelieu, Mazarin, Louis XIV, but also Molière. What dating!
The castle still bears witness to a double life: a magnificent palace, worthy of a king, it became after the Revolution the first prison for women, characterized by particularly difficult conditions of detention until 1952.
Admire, contemplate this castle built on three levels, and housing the shops, the bakery, the kitchens, the reserves, the forges and the workshops, in short, everything that makes up real castle life! Arranged in a U around a main courtyard, it is surrounded by dry moats and protected by bastions.
The set includes elegant mullioned bays, vast apartments with rich interior decorations, with painted ceilings, wainscoting and eight monumental marble and stone fireplaces.
The chimneys bear the figures of the Duke, the Duchess or even Henry III and were created by the most renowned artists:
it took 8 fireplaces to embody the girondine splendor!
The castle is adorned with a collection of paintings, furniture and tapestries, partly woven in the basements of the castle. Unfortunately, most of these “homemade” creations were destroyed during the Revolution. But the castle has regained its former allure, thanks to an exceptional collection of historical tapestries from the National Monuments which magnify its interiors and give an idea of the splendor of the original decor.
In recent years, many restoration works have transformed the ducal castle, restoring it to its XNUMXth century state. Traces of his prison occupation have however been preserved for the duty of memory. The ducal castle hosts, on the other hand, each year, exhibitions which appeal to a large public.
Cadillac Ducal Castle
Cadillac
Listed as a Historic Monument – National Monument
To see and do near the Ducal Castle of Cadillac
The village of Rions
On the right bank of the Garonne, between the Château de Langoiran and the Bastide de Cadillac, stands Rions, undoubtedly one of the oldest villages in Gironde, if we are to believe the Roman epitaph discovered there. Built between the river and the slopes of Entre-deux-Mers, Rions is a fortified village, surrounded by ramparts. From the imposing Lhyan Tower, via the rampart walk and the Watch Tower, it's a little trip through the mazes of a medieval village that surprises the visitor. It is also the starting point for many hikes in the vineyard.
