The first castle was built in 1137 on a rocky outcrop by Guillaume Amanieu viscount of Besaume, Benauges and Gabardan.
At the beginning of the XIVth century, Gaillard de Goth, brother of the first French pope, Clément V, inherited Duras. He benefited from the pontifical money to transform his castle into an impregnable fortress. By marriage with Arnaud de Durfort, Marquèse de Goth brings the seigneury of Duras as a dowry and this is how the family of Durfort becomes Durfort-Duras and will own the Castle until 1838.
Located in a strategic territorial area during the Hundred Years War, the Durfort-Duras were able to pull out of the game according to alliances and financial benefits. The end of the war could have inaugurated an area of peace, but the Durfort-Duras during the Wars of Religion joined the Protestants and thus opposed the King of France. Blaise de Montluc, sent by the King, besieged the Castle in 1562. The affected family then decides to fall into line and in return obtains the title of count.
Their rise did not stop there : the Durfort-Duras became counts then marquises and finally by favor of Louis XIV, dukes in 1689 and peer of France in 1755.
Louise Félicité d’Aumont, granddaughter of Durfort-Duras becomes Princess Louise of Monaco by marrying Prince Honoré IV of Monaco in 1795. This marriage with a Prince Grimaldi explains the link that still exists to this day with the Principality of Monaco. His Serene Highness the Sovereign Prince Albert II of Monaco visited the home of his ancestors on July 4, 2017 and the castle is one of the historic Grimaldi sites of Monaco.
After centuries of conflict, the Castle, in the 17th and 18th centuries, experienced profound architectural upheavals, it thus became a magnificent pleasure residence with French gardens. extending by successive terraces to the edge of Dropt.
The French Revolution will not spare the Castle of Duras which will be partially looted and destroyed.
After several successive private acquisitions, it is abandoned. Worn out by time, it was finally bought by the municipality in 1969 during an auction. Listed as a Historic Monument the following year, for 50 years it has been the subject of constant restoration campaigns. It is now one of the flagships of Aquitaine heritage and a unmissable site in Lot-et-Garonne.
In 2018, a partnership with Mobilier nation was set up. Former Garde-Meuble de la Couronne, this institution was created in 1604 by Henri IV. The mission of the Mobilier National is to furnish the presidential residences and the high administrations of the State, to create works of contemporary art, to maintain and restore its collections, to enhance and make known its heritage .
The furnishing of the Castle was carried out in 2 stages and allows you to realize what “the life of the Castle” could be like. It was chosen to install XIXth century furniture in the troubadour style which takes up the taste of the Renaissance to recall the good times of the dukes of Durfort-Duras in the XVIIth century. In 2018, it was first the Duchess wing that was fitted out, then in 2019 the Duke’s apartments followed.
Today the Castle of Duras presents a remarkable exhibition of 230 objects (billiards, armchairs, tables, rugs, paintings, sculptures, tapestries…)
OPENING TIME :
Open daily from February 1 until the end of the Christmas holidays (except January 1, December 24 and 25) February, March, November, December 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
April, May, June, September, October 10 am-1pm and 2 pm-6pm July-August 10 am-7pm (until 9:30 pm on show nights)