Château de Montaigne

The Montaigne Castle (French: Château de Montaigne ) is located in the commune of Saint -Michel -de- Montaigne, in the department of Dordogne, in the Aquitaine region in southwestern France. Between Libourne and Bergerac is the castle of the 14th century, which was completed only in the 19th century. It was the residence of the French philosopher Michel de Montaigne, the founder of the family essay writing.

The castle is classified as a monument historique by the decree of 28 March 1952.

The architecture is designed in the style of the Neo - Renaissance. After entering through the large entrance gate leads into a square courtyard, bounded by a high wall. The round tower of the library on the right side is the only remnant of the 16th century.

History

The property has been acquired by the wine merchant Eyquem Ramon, who had come through his work in Bordeaux to prosperity, in 1477. As the " Seigneur de Montaigne " ( German: M. de Montaigne ), he settled with his family down here and inherited the spacious property to his children and grandchildren.

The castle has been changed several times over the centuries and rebuilt after a fire in 1885 only partially.

Tower

The south of the main building located " Library Tower " consists of one large and one smaller round tower with a small residential building. On the ground floor is a chapel to continue to reach the top of the first floor, accessed by a stone spiral staircase, the round Michel de Montaigne's room. Here the philosopher died. On the top floor there was his library.

A Latin inscription on the wall of the library is in German:

" In the year of grace 1571, in the 38 years of age, on February 28, his birthday, has Michel de Montaigne, long ago tired of the service in court and in public office, in full manhood back into the bosom of the learned virgins unmarried at rest and all worry if your destiny granted him to complete the rest of his small already largely bygone life; he has consecrated this place, these expensive inherited from his ancestors refuge, his liberty, his peace and his leisure. "