Château du Cros

The Château du Cros in Loupiac, France was built by medieval builders in the Romanesque tradition. Construction began in 1155 and continued through a building period that spans roughly from the late twelfth century to the middle of the fourteenth century. From its first phases the site occupied a rocky spur chosen for defensive reasons and for clear oversight of the Garonne River, with the castle’s position intended to control and observe river traffic.

In the later Middle Ages the place was remodeled several times, with the plan seen today reflecting building campaigns and adaptations carried out between the fourteenth and the seventeenth centuries. During the Hundred Years’ War the château remained under English control and its defenders drove off attacks by the seigneurs de Benauge. Over the following centuries the property passed between different families and continued to be lived in until the Second World War.

In 1944 the German army requisitioned the castle to use its elevated view. The building was used as a firing target and then was demolished by explosives shortly before German forces withdrew. After the war the site was left abandoned and suffered further deterioration from weather, theft, and vandalism. The château was placed on the supplementary inventory of historic monuments by decree dated 31 December 1993. From 2008 the estate was granted on a long lease to the association les Amis du Vieux Château du Cros, and that group began restoration work in 2010. Measures carried out since that date include waterproofing of wall tops, repair of windows and some chimneys, and the reworking of a staircase tower together with restoration of a late Gothic door in the flamboyant manner. Since 2010 the association has organized two recurring events each year, the Journées Médiévales du Cros held on the first weekend of June and participation in the European Heritage Days on the third weekend of September, both featuring guided visits and historical reenactment groups.