Castle of Duras Castles in Duras

Opening hours

Open

  • Monday Closed
  • Tuesday Closed
  • Wednesday Closed
  • Thursday 02:00 pm - 06:00 pm
  • Friday 02:00 pm - 06:00 pm
  • Saturday 02:00 pm - 06:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed

Closes at 06:00 pm

On social networks

Useful information

Location : In the countryside

Province : Pays du Dropt

Services

  • Chèques Vacances (Holiday voucher)
  • Credit card accepted
  • English spoken
  • Groups
  • Parking
  • English
    • 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)

  • Français

Traveller Reviews Castle of Duras

4.5 sur 5 3086 reviews

  • Patrick Gilmore

    5 sur 5 Reviews posted by Patrick Gilmore on 08/11/2023

    Halloween at the Castle of the Dukes of Duras is an awesome experience for young and old. Not for the faint hearted though 🤣

  • Will Dixon

    5 sur 5 Reviews posted by Will Dixon on 09/09/2023

    We were staying just by the castle as a group of friends with lots of little toddlers. They loved the visit to the castle and the jousting show. Really good fun for them.

  • Kevin Hardern

    4 sur 5 Reviews posted by Kevin Hardern on 09/08/2023

    A good place to visit, not a load of clutter, some furnished rooms but most have a historical aspect telling the story of the castle. The high point was a selection of medieval games in a lot of rooms, with instructions, we played them all. Only negative was nowhere for refteshments in the castle

Traveller Reviews Castle of Duras

4.5 sur 5 418 reviews

  • "Recommended self guided tour. Fun."

    5 / 5 Reviews posted by Charbala (Mundesley, United Kingdom) on 06/10/2023

    An excellent self guided tour around the chateau. Quite fun. Lots of variety and views. Even hubby enjoyed it and he was quite reticent about visiting "yet another chateau". Recommended.

    Read the full review
  • "Ideal for families entertainment for teens"

    5 / 5 Reviews posted by Silverfoxmentor (Aylesbury, United Kingdom) on 10/08/2023

    We loved this castle on the hill. We give it 5 stars for it's uniqueness but bear in mind no coffee shop. The catle tour focuses on the history of the area and the family who lived there. There is...

    Read the full review
  • "Nicely renovated, with audio and visual effects!"

    5 / 5 Reviews posted by Susanne1990 (Breda, The Netherlands) on 27/07/2021

    Definitely a must see! Castle is in very good shape. We've spend here two hours, walking through the castle with the (English) audio guide in our hands. Extensive background stories for each room. In...

    Read the full review

Ride around

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Baleyssagues, balade dans le vignoble de Duras

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Castle of Duras

Address

Place du Château
47120 Duras

Contacts

Phone : 05 33 14 00 38

GPS coordinates

44° 40'35.98"N, 0° 10'45.93"E

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