LAVARDEN CASTLE

Set on a rocky spur, it has retained the flamboyance that Antoine de Roquelaure sought to infuse into it when he commissioned its reconstruction in the ^17th century. This companion of Henri IV decided to modernize the ^12th-century medieval château belonging to the Counts of Armagnac. His desire was to make it a comfortable home for his great love, Suzanne de Bassabat. All that remained of the old building was a guardroom. The two architects who worked on the new building were able to preserve its feudal posture while injecting a touch of modernity. The belvedere with its three-sided balcony and towers on trumpets are exceptional. A plague epidemic ravaged the surrounding area in 1653, and work was interrupted. This was the beginning of a long series of vicissitudes over the following centuries.

Unfinished, the house contains few decorative elements. Be sure to admire the ^18th-century pavements in different styles in each of the 17 rooms. After the French Revolution, the château was split up and sold to 12 families of property dealers. They let the building fall into such disrepair that nature took over the walls. In the 1960s, it was almost turned into a stone quarry. A handful of enthusiasts opposed the idea and had the house listed as a historic monument. After extensive restoration and embellishment work, the château became the setting for numerous events and exhibitions.

In addition to its fortress, Lavardens is well worth a visit for its incredible views and fascinating history.