the history of the tower
The Termes d'Armagnac castle is a typical monument of 13th century Gascon architecture. Most likely built by Roger I of Armagnac Termes in the middle of the 13th century, this vast medieval Gascon palace was built in the "terms" of the county of Armagnac in order to assert its power and protect its borders against the Count of Bigorre. Indeed, the period was marked by numerous conflicts between the protagonists of the local nobility.
This building, like many nearby examples, is composed of an imposing main building, with four levels of 250m² each, on which is flanked an imposing square keep, called a tower-room. The rooms of the keep essentially constitute the lords' bedrooms.
Standing 36 metres high, it was certainly originally covered with a protective hoarding, as evidenced by the corbels on the top of the façades. At the site's medieval peak, an imposing three-chased moat system surrounded and protected the castle and its church.
The castle of Termes d'Armagnac saw the growth of the illustrious Thibaud de Termes, born in 1405. As a younger brother, he spent very little time at the castle and we assume that as he approached the age of 12, he left the patriarchal residence to become a knight and enlisted at a very young age in the army of Charles VII against the English invasion. Companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years' War from 1337 to 1453, his military career then continued, and was crowned by the title of Grand Bailiff (representative of the royal authority) of Chartres and the Chartres region.
The castle underwent many transformations between the 13th and 21st centuries. It remained in the Armagnac-Termes family and its descendants from its construction until the French Revolution when it was sold as national property at auction to Maitre Lajoye, a notary from Nogaro, who began to use it as a wood and stone quarry. Then resold to the former magistrate, Olivier de Maignon de Roques, his descendants ended up demolishing the main building, until abandoning the castle.
In 1960, it was purchased by the municipality, which began its restoration, leaving it to associations to ensure the animation. The site was classified as a historic monument in 1962, the first of many stages in the preservation of the heritage of Termes d'Armagnac.
