If Alexandre Dumas could write The three Musketeers, it is – a little – thanks to him. Castelmore castle, located in Lupiac, in the Gers.
This monument – which saw the birth and growth, at the beginning of the 17th century, of the real d’Artagnan, Charles de Batz de Castelmore d’Artagnan of his full name – is for sale. And the department of Gers has every intention of buying it. Its president, Philippe Dupouy even presented a hand mail to the Prime Minister, to inform him of this desire. It was mid-February.
A tourist project around the site?
In reality, this desire was born under the mandate of Philippe Martin, to whom Philippe Dupouy succeeded. The latter, in the letter he addressed to Jean-Castex, expresses a wish: to prevent the castle from falling “in the hands of a private buyer”. “The castle of Castelmore is a heritage jewel which seems to me essential to offer enjoyment to citizens, whether they are from Gers or passing through the lands of d’Artagnan”writes the interested party.
As stated in the announcement, published on the site beautifulstones.com, the castle and its four towers (two round, two square), is 700 square meters. It contains a large entrance hall and a staircase, both listed as Historic Monuments. Furthermore, the building, which includes two outbuildings, is located on a 155 hectare estate. Sale price 2.5 million euros.
A large sum for the department, which plans to negotiate. Especially since the buildings need to be restored. They will also have to be maintained, which will undoubtedly require the development of a tourist project around the site. On this point, the Gers department will have to find partners.
The castle where little Charles became d’Artagnan
If the president of the Gers departmental council seems to want to make it a point of honor to buy this manor house, it is because it is truly the place where little Charles became d’Artagnan. “Absoutelyenthuses Odile Bordaz, historian and author of several books on d’Artagnan and the musketeers. It is the place where Charles de Batz de Castelmore heard about his ancestors, and where he learned how to handle weapons, before going to the court of King Louis Louis XIII.