Château des Anglais, the troglodyte fortress of Autoire
The Château des Anglais, also known as Château Fort La Roque d’Autoire, is an imposing troglodytic fortress perched on a cliffside, overlooking the village of Autoire.
Various outbuildings, watchtowers, and dwellings, protected behind its ramparts, form a fortified complex spread across three terraces extending over 200 meters in length and 30 to 40 meters in width.
The castle was ingeniously built directly into the rock face, utilising natural cavities.
Today, only the foundations of its defensive towers and watchtowers remain.
Yet, for three centuries, the Château des Anglais was enlarged and remodelled until the 17th century, but finally abandoned, it gradually fell into ruin, succumbing to the ravages of time.
A fortress that commanded the border of two counties
The Château des Anglais was erected at the beginning of the 13th century as a lookout post to control the border between the two counties.
Acquired by the Viscounts of Turenne at the end of the 12th century, the fief of Autoire indeed straddled the border between the county of Auvergne and the county of Toulouse.
This imposing fortress was a fortified rock shelter, called a “rocca” (rock – roque) in Occitan, hence its official name: Roque d’Autoire.
Numerous holes where the beams were anchored in the rock face give us an idea of the castle’s size, which originally spread on two storeys and a ground floor, and was later enlarged on its northern side.
This extension, also spread on two storeys, was a significant improvement, as evidenced by the remains of fireplaces and latrines, suggesting its dual function as a residence and a defensive structure.
A fortress steeped in medieval conflicts
The fortress is marked by medieval conflicts.
It was indeed renamed Château des Anglais (English Castle) during the tumultuous Hundred Years’ War., as it was occupied by the English. After the end of the conflict, the Lord of Autoire undertook significant reconstruction work, notably the construction of the stair tower, now in ruins, the expansion of the south side, and the addition of machicolations.
During the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, the fortress fell into the hands of the Protestants, who further fortified it. A century later, in the midst of the Fronde, the Viscount of Turenne restored the castle’s defences one last time. However, once the conflict subsided, he abandoned his old fortress, which the villagers gradually dismantled to rebuild their homes.
Over time, the ruins fell into oblivion, reclaimed by nature and the elements, and concealed by vegetation. Fortunately, the Château des Anglais was listed as a historical monument in 1925; the final phase of restoration was completed in 2013.
Department of Lot – Autoire
Coordinates: Lat 44.851272 – Long 38691.81
Discover the Château de Limargue in Autoire, a picturesque village ranked among the most beautiful villages in France and situated a stone’s throw from the Gouffre de Padirac.
