Name - Chateau de Puyguilhem
Location - Villars
Department - Dordogne 24
State - Chateau
The construction of the Chateau de Puyguilhem starts in 1513, made active by Mondot de La Marthonie,, first president of the Parliament of Paris. The man is a close relation of Francois Ist and his mother Louise de Savoie. He manages the kingdom when the king leaves for war.
It seems that the construction is in two stages: the first completed in 1524, including the foundations, part of the tower and the hexagonal turret, the second, which sees the castle completed in 1535. Its design oscillates between two times, medieval and the rebirth. Several elements indeed point out the Gothic style of the Middle Ages, in particular the absence of symmetry of the building and the interior parts while the exterior facade evokes those of the Chateaux de la Loire which its owner knows well for he attends the court of the King.
The castle is modest in its dimensions. Mondot de La Marthonie intended it to be used as second home and for hunting. Its interior comprises the parts strictly necessary to the life of a noble of the time. The park also contains an pigeonnier. The building was classified a historic building in 1881, downgraded into 1887 before to be classified again on March 20, 1912.
The accesses of the castle, wood and grounds, are registered by decree of May 19, 1945. In 1938, the State pushes its owner who dropped the castle into a state of ruin. It starts a restoration which will last 20 years. The chateau de Puyguilhem is managed since February 2008 by the Centre des monuments nationaux.
