Cadillac in the Time of the Dukes

What you can expect:

• Visit Cadillac-sur-Garonne and its ducal castle, guided by a castle servant, immersed in the 17th century.
• Experience the transformation of Cadillac from a medieval bastide with its old fortified castle into a ducal residence, hosting the most prominent figures of the French court.
• Join a passionate guide who embodies her character in a historical outfit for a captivating tour.

Program

While the Duchess of Epernon was buried in the crypt of the collegiate church, Cadillac underwent profound changes. Jean-Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, Duke of Epernon, decided to demolish the old castle and erect a sumptuous new building in its place. In the early 17th century, when King Henry IV was assassinated before the Duke's eyes, your tour guide will bring the city's past to life as Jeanne, an orphan who was taken in by the castle servants. 

Get to know your character:

Jeanne, born in Cadillac, always wandered around the old castle which fascinated her.
As a child, she caught the kind attention of Duchess Marguerite de Foix-Candale. Amused by the little girl and saddened to learn she was an orphan, the duchess placed her among her kitchen staff. After the duchess's death, Jeanne feared encountering the angry Duke.

Adopted by the castle servants, she poked her nose into everything and asked a thousand questions to the workers who were beginning the reconstruction.
The Duke's court came regularly, and she witnessed the comings and goings of the elegant courtiers who passed through.
From the end of the Wars of Religion to the regency under Louis XIII, not to mention the assassination of Henry IV, she will tell you the story of the most incredible of Cadillac's great figures!