”’Château de Lamothe”’ is a historic manor located in [[Pouillon, Landes|Pouillon]] in the [[Landes (department)|Landes department]] of southwestern [[France]].
”’Château de Lamothe”’ is a historic manor located in [[Pouillon, Landes|Pouillon]] in the [[Landes (department)|Landes department]] of southwestern [[France]].
Built upon an artificial mound overlooking the ”Vallée du Vic”, it is regarded as one of the oldest seigneurial residences in the region, alongside the [[Château Saint-Martin (Pouillon)|Château Saint-Martin]].
Built upon an artificial mound overlooking the ”Vallée du Vic”, it is regarded as one of the oldest seigneurial residences in the region, alongside the Château Saint-Martin .
Its long occupation spans from a possible protohistoric settlement to a medieval ”motte” and a Renaissance residence.
[[File:Chateau de Lamothe – Drawing from 1902 renovation – LowRes.jpg|thumb|The North façade of the Château de Lamothe (Pouillon, Landes). Drawing cover of the blueprint dossier regarding the 1902 renovation]]
[[File:Chateau de Lamothe – Drawing from 1902 renovation – LowRes.jpg|thumb|The North façade of the Château de Lamothe (Pouillon, Landes). Drawing cover of the blueprint dossier regarding the 1902 renovation]]
History of Château de Lamothe (Pouillon)
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Château de Lamothe is a historic manor located in Pouillon in the Landes department of southwestern France.
Built upon an artificial mound overlooking the Vallée du Vic, it is regarded as one of the oldest seigneurial residences in the region, alongside the Château Saint-Martin.Its long occupation spans from a possible protohistoric settlement to a medieval motte and a Renaissance residence.
Location
The château lies south of the main village of Pouillon, within the region of Chalosse about 15 km south of Dax and 45 km from the Atlantic Ocean.
The estate covers approximately 27 hectares, including farmland and woodland, and the castle itself stands on a man-made mound supported by stone retaining walls dominating the valley.
History
Protohistoric and early occupation
Archaeological and geomorphological evidence suggest that the mound predates the medieval period.
Its shape and structure correspond to those of a protohistoric oppidum or early fortified platform later re-used during the feudal era.
A fine layer of ash with animal bones and rare pottery fragments, discovered about 2 metres below the current surface, supports the hypothesis of an early occupation before the construction of the stone castle.
Medieval origins
The first written records of Pouillon date from the 13th century when the area was part of the English duchy of Aquitaine.
In 1254 and again in 1289, Edward I of England—then Duke of Aquitaine—ordered the fortification of the castrum of Pouillon and authorised the construction of dwellings within its walls.
The royal instructions mention Gaillard de Saint-Martin and other inhabitants receiving plots inside the fortification.[1]
The term La Mote de Pouillon appears in 1342 in the Gascon Rolls, when Bernat de Béarn, known as l’Aspès, rendered homage to the king of England for the possession of la Mote de Pouillon, inherited from Guilhem de Heugas, lord of Heugas.[2]
Lords of Navailles and Luppé
By the early 15th century, the Lamothe estate had passed to the noble family of de Navailles.
In 1433, Clariana d’Osserain, widow of Arnaut de Navailles and Lady of Lamothe, received letters of protection from Henry VI of England during the closing years of the Hundred Years’ War.
Around 1520, Marguerite de Navailles, Lady of Lamothe, married Bertrand de Luppé, transferring the seigneury to the Luppé family.
The Luppé family remained at Lamothe for over two centuries, transforming the medieval fortification into a Renaissance residence while preserving its round tower and underground structures.[3]
Modern period
Local tradition holds that in 1670, the Count of Luppé presented a flask of water from the nearby Bidas spring—known for its medicinal qualities—to Louis XIV.
In 1735, Guillaume-Gabriel de Luppé, later canon of Dax, was born at the château.
During the French Revolution, the estate was confiscated and sold as a bien national in 1793, ending centuries of Luppé ownership.
Contemporary period
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Lamothe remained a private agricultural property.
The castle retains Renaissance windows, thick stone walls, a tower and large terraces overlooking Pouillon.
Although not listed as a Monument historique, it is recognised as a notable heritage landmark within the commune.[4]
Archaeological significance
Recent core samples revealed:
- A 5 cm layer of ash with animal bones and pottery at 2 m depth.
- Stratified compact layers below 3 m, likely representing older occupation levels.
- Artificial fill consistent with a man-made defensive mound (motte).
These findings support the theory that the site evolved from a protohistoric oppidum to a medieval motte and, later, to a stone castle—similar to other fortified sites in the Landes such as the Tuc de Houns (Saint-Paul-en-Born) and Castets (Bougue).[5]
See also
References
- ^ Château Saint-Martin de Pouillon, Once Upon a Time, official website: en.chateausaintmartin-landes.fr
- ^ Gascon Rolls, 1317–1468, The National Archives (UK), C 61/42, membrane 10. gasconrolls.org
- ^ JC Truffet Genealogical Database, Lamothe Pouillon entry: jctruffet.com
- ^ Ikeros Heritage Index, Château de Lamothe – Pouillon: ikeros.net
- ^ Service Régional de l’Archéologie Nouvelle-Aquitaine (DRAC), LiDAR HD survey, 2023.
