The Château de Losse and its gardens have been listed as French Historical House and Site since 1928. They are located in

Périgord Périgord ( , ; ; oc, Peiregòrd / ) is a natural region and former province of France, which corresponds roughly to the current Dordogne department, now forming the northern part of the administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It is div ...

Dordogne Dordogne ( , or ; ; oc, Dordonha ) is a large rural department in Southwestern France, with its prefecture in Périgueux. Located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region roughly half-way between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees, it is named af ...

district, South-West of France, near the

Lascaux Lascaux ( , ; french: Grotte de Lascaux , "Lascaux Cave") is a network of caves near the village of Montignac, in the department of Dordogne in southwestern France. Over 600 parietal wall paintings cover the interior walls and ceilings of ...

pre-historic caves, on the

Vézère The Vézère (; oc, Vesera) is a 211-km-long river in southwestern France. It is an important tributary to the Dordogne. Its source is in the northwestern part of the elevated plateau known as the Massif Central. It flows into the Dordogne near ...

river. The medieval fortress overlooks the Vézère river. In 1575, a Renaissance Hall was built within the stronghold. It is enclosed by curtain walls and surrounded by a deep ditch. Inside the décor and the period furnishings bear witness to the grand lifestyle of the Marquess Jean II de Losse in the 16th century.

History

The Losse family came from Flanders in the 11th century and subsequently built a stronghold on the right bank of the Vézère . From that time they belonged to the feudal hierarchy. Later on their allegiance went to the king of France. The Hall was built in 1576 inside the medieval fortress by Jean II Marquis de Losse. A great soldier, his loyalty to the Crown was the source of his military and social good fortune. He was page to François I, served all the sons of

Catherine de' Medici Catherine de' Medici ( it, Caterina de' Medici, ; french: Catherine de Médicis, ; 13 April 1519 – 5 January 1589) was an Florentine noblewoman born into the Medici family. She was Queen of France from 1547 to 1559 by marriage to King ...

and was tutor to

Henri IV Henry IV (french: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry or Henry the Great, was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 1610. He was the first monarc ...

. As a courtier he saw the prevalent Renaissance criteria used in contemporary buildings in Paris and elsewhere. At the end of his career he returned to Périgord as General governor of Limousin and Guyenne. The changes he then made to his ancestral home were in accordance with the taste of the times, while retaining a country-like sobriety. Since, however, the religious wars still raged, he put his great experience in defending royal places against the Imperial troops to improving the defensive apparel of the castle for the use of firearms (e.g. muskets and canons). This can be seen from the various openings in the curtain walls and the barbican. He was a contemporary of

Montaigne Michel Eyquem, Sieur de Montaigne ( ; ; 28 February 1533 – 13 September 1592), also known as the Lord of Montaigne, was one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance. He is known for popularizing the essay as a liter ...

and also wished to leave a motto that echoed his life . These were engraved in different places of the castle. Over the entrance can be read : « Man does as he may, Fortune (fate) as she will »

The Castle

Such as we see it today it has remained unaltered since the 16th century, save for the wear of time. It was therefore listed as an Historical Monument in 1928. Its sole access is by the bridge over the moat and through a fortified gatehouse (the largest of its kind in France). In the courtyard, the façade of the Hall (1576) is an example of Renaissance architecture. Its characteristic features are carved in the golden stone of Périgord. On the riverside the grandiose terrace built on the cliff offers a view down the Vézère valley. The grand staircase with stone ornaments leads to rooms with sculpted mantelpieces.

The Gardens

In the hornbeam ‘green chambers’ as they were designed in the 17th century, the labyrinthine walk windows open onto the castle and the flower beds. Upon reaching the river the balcony, dating back to the 16th century, allows a view downstream.

External links

Best of Périgord

Château de Losse website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Losse, Chateau de Châteaux in Dordogne Gardens in Dordogne Historic house museums in Nouvelle-Aquitaine Museums in Dordogne Monuments historiques of Dordogne