Private residence for thirty years, the building classified as a historic monument is now for sale. Built between the 13th and 17th centuries, the Renaissance-style castle was the home of the first Duke of Lauzun, Antonin Nompar de Caumont. The town hall, which had already shown its interest during the acquisition of the castle by the current owners, must raise “two million euros to be able to preempt” before the end of October, explains Jean-Pierre Barjou, the mayor of Lauzun. Opposite her, an Irish buyer also showed interest in the offer. A race against time is on.
To raise these two million euros, the municipality hopes to obtain half of it thanks to subsidies. “400,000 euros would come from the State, or 20% of the budget, then 15% from the region, 10% from the department and 5% from the community of communes”, specifies the mayor of Lauzun. The town of 700 inhabitants, located in the Guyenne valley, is ready to put €800,000 on the table and hopes to collect €100,000 in donations.
Open to a tax reduction, the call for donations will be launched in mid-August and until the end of October via “the email address of the Friends of the Château de Lauzun association, which is authorized to issue tax exemption certificates. » The rest of the sum would come from donations from neighboring municipalities, which currently total nearly €70,000 according to the city councilor.
By making the castle public, the mayor of Lauzun hopes to “organize the tourist and cultural branch by opening it for at least six months continuously”. In this way, the municipality wishes to attract 10,000 to 15,000 visitors per year. His goal: to open it to visits and offer it for rental for events in order to balance maintenance and operating expenses. The castle could also accommodate a museum of the Hussars. A project which is explained by the triumphant action of the second Duke of Lauzun, Gontaud-Birond, who formed a regiment during the American War of Independence and whose name now bears a bridge in Washington.
This tourist development would be an opportunity to “boost shops and accommodation” as well as “become a complement to the castles of Duras, Bonaguil and Biron”, neighboring sites all three classified as historical monuments, according to a press release from the town hall.
