Built on the village cliffs in the Parc Naturel des Causses du Quercy, 6 km from Saint-Cirq Lapopie, Château de Cénevières, built between the 13th and 16th centuries, is one of the most splendid Renaissance monuments in the Quercy region.
Its terraces overlook the Lot valley.
A little history...
The natural cave on which it is built served as a hideout for Gaiffier, Duke of Aquitaine, who spent most of his life fighting against Pepin le Bref, who was attempting to unify France. The town was conquered in 767 by treachery after a four-year siege.
In the 11th century, the "La Popie" family, famous lords who gave their name to the medieval village of Saint-Cirq Lapopie, began building the castle.
In the 12th century, the founding family sold their property to the Gourdons, who became lords of the castle and owners of the Cénevières lands.
In 1580, the young King of Navarre, the future King Henri IV, visited his friend Antoine de Gourdon, who had just transformed his château into an Italian Renaissance palace.
Today, the De Braquilanges family, owners of this unique Renaissance site in Quercy since 1793, have made it possible for the château to be classified as a historic monument, and since then have been organizing tours to keep the history of this place, steeped in stories great and small, alive.
Listed as a historic monument since 1957, the château's owners now welcome visitors.
For many years, the Marquis, Guy de Braquilanges, has "acted as guide" to the château, its furniture, its memories and its family history. Sights include the 13th-century keep, an Italian-style gallery, French ceilings, large kitchens and dungeons...
Around its elegant main courtyard, the Renaissance-style residence houses luxurious rooms with a remarkable painted ceiling featuring views of Constantinople, as well as an unusual alchemy room, with paintings on the theme of Ovid's Metamorphoses.
For over an hour, you'll tour ten furnished rooms (13th, 16th and 18th centuries), featuring numerous objects and relics from these different centuries.
Patrick, his son, and his daughter-in-law Patricia, have innovated with night-time tours in costume, every Wednesday in summer!
The château's rooms are available to hire for events.
Château de Cenevières
D8 - 668 Route du Château
46330 Cénevières
Tel.: 05 65 31 38 08
contact@chateau-cenevieres.com
https://www.chateau-cenevieres.com/
