Château de Launac, Launac, France

Château de Launac was built by the viscounts of Gimoes in the 12th century. In 1148 the castle passed into the house of Isle Jourdain. Dismantled after the Treaty of Paris in 1229, the fortress was rebuilt in the fifteenth century by Carmaing Nègrepelisse. It consisted of four corner towers including an old keep from the twelfth century.

This castle was undoubtedly again dismantled by Cardinal Richelieu under the reign of Louis XIII. Today two wings remain. Inside the castle is a monumental fireplace and painted decorations from the XVth century.

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Château de Launac

User Reviews

Varvara Babei (14 months ago)
Beautiful exterior of this castle and its park. Some lovely rooms and decor downstairs. And perfect photoshoot opportunities. However don't expect private hotel rooms upstairs to stay at as the sleeping arrangements are rather open, with guests sharing a couple of bathrooms and with no proper doors separating the rooms. A medieval youth hostel kinda feeling.

Rhys Jervis-Denison (2 years ago)
We had the best weekend of our lives here at château de Launac. Valérie and Didier were so friendly and welcoming. It’s amazing how you can feel so at home in such a magnificent castle! Valérie helped us so much in the organisation, giving us suggestions for all types of suppliers but we had total freedom to organise the wedding in a way that was exactly what we wanted. During the wedding they were helpful and always available but gave us privacy and let us get on with it. The château is full of character, not your typical French château, with so many quirks and interesting features. It’s also perfectly located, only 20-25 minutes from the airport but you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. Nous avons passé le meilleur week-end de nos vies à château de Launac pour notre mariage. Valérie et Didier nous ont accueilli et nous ont fait senti chez nous. Endroit nous a donné l’opportunité d’organiser le mariage qu’on voulait en choisissant notre propre prestataires (avec une liste de prestataires très utile que Valérie nous a donné). Merci Valérie et Didier pour le mariage de nos rêves !

Tom Kendrick (2 years ago)
Was and awesome wedding venue for our munched loved friends.

Phil Goulden (2 years ago)
Attended a wedding here, a stunning location with super staff. Highly recommended.

Stinee1 (2 years ago)
Went here for a wedding. It was magical.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright levaletfrancois

Historic Site of the week

Château de Falaise

Château de Falaise is best known as a castle, where William the Conqueror, the son of Duke Robert of Normandy, was born in about 1028. William went on to conquer England and become king and possession of the castle descended through his heirs until the 13th century when it was captured by King Philip II of France. Possession of the castle changed hands several times during the Hundred Years' War. The castle was deserted during the 17th century. Since 1840 it has been protected as a monument historique.

The castle (12th–13th century), which overlooks the town from a high crag, was formerly the seat of the Dukes of Normandy. The construction was started on the site of an earlier castle in 1123 by Henry I of England, with the 'large keep' (grand donjon). Later was added the 'small keep' (petit donjon). The tower built in the first quarter of the 12th century contained a hall, chapel, and a room for the lord, but no small rooms for a complicated household arrangement; in this way, it was similar to towers at Corfe, Norwich, and Portchester, all in England. In 1202 Arthur I, Duke of Brittany was King John of England's nephew, was imprisoned in Falaise castle's keep. According to contemporaneous chronicler Ralph of Coggeshall, John ordered two of his servants to mutilate the duke. Hugh de Burgh was in charge of guarding Arthur and refused to let him be mutilated, but to demoralise Arthur's supporters was to announce his death. The circumstances of Arthur's death are unclear, though he probably died in 1203.

In about 1207, after having conquered Normandy, Philip II Augustus ordered the building of a new cylindrical keep. It was later named the Talbot Tower (Tour Talbot) after the English commander responsible for its repair during the Hundred Years' War. It is a tall round tower, similar design to the towers built at Gisors and the medieval Louvre.Possession of the castle changed hands several times during the Hundred Years' War. The castle was deserted during the 17th century. Since 1840, Château de Falaise has been recognised as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

A programme of restoration was carried out between 1870 and 1874. The castle suffered due to bombardment during the Second World War in the battle for the Falaise pocket in 1944, but the three keeps were unscathed.

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