Three goats sunbathe on the steps of the house while a few meters away, archaeologists are busy in damp trenches. But it is the trio of goats that attracts attention. “Won’t you forget to photograph the construction site?” », asks, with a smile on his lips, the owner of the Château de Saint…
Three goats sunbathe on the steps of the house while a few meters away, archaeologists are busy in damp trenches. But it is the trio of goats that attracts attention. “Won’t you forget to photograph the construction site?” », asks, with a smile on his lips, the owner of the castle of Saint-Germain-du-Salembre (Dordogne), Christophe Mangé.
Christelle Ehrhardt and Christophe Mangé on the castle dike.
Philippe Greiller
Since the week of May 20, teams from the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap) have been working ahead of the planned work on the castle dike (read below), located at the rear of the building. Christelle Ehrhardt, the person responsible for the excavations, describes the framework of the operation: “We are carrying out a survey at the foot of the main tower, which is the oldest of the whole, as well as in the courtyard”.
Philippe Greiller
The piles are visible at the foundation level.
Wooden stakes
The work revealed masonry, now buried. Much more interesting, the presence of pieces of wood at the level of the medieval foundations. “These piles are very thin, 3 to 5 centimeters thick,” describes Christelle Ehrhardt. She wonders: “Was it for the stability of the building or to create cofferdams, knowing that the area is very humid? Everything is open. » The phase of studying the materials collected on site should allow him to find out more. “I have four months to submit my report,” says the person in charge of the excavations.
Boots on his feet, Christophe Mangé doesn’t miss a beat. This castle is his main residence. It entered the family fold in 1950, when his Alsatian grandfather, Louis Vogel, a history and geography teacher at the Bertran-de-Born high school in Périgueux, bought it. “I came on vacation here when I was a child,” emphasizes this retiree from the performing arts world. He adds: “Taking care of such a place is a full-time job. »
Philippe Greiller
Moats surround the castle.
The property was open to the public a few weeks ago as part of the Châteaux en fête operation. It will be there again for Heritage Days in September. By then, thanks to Inrap, Christophe Mangé will have learned many more stories about his castle and visitors will listen to them with great interest. As long as they don’t linger too long in front of the three goats.
Heritage Foundation
The castle of Saint-Germain-du-Salembre was selected, in 2019, in the first list of the Heritage Loto. Aid had been promised for the repair of the castle dike which had given way in 2017. “Normally, the work must be carried out within five years,” breathes the departmental delegate of the Heritage Foundation, Patrick Palem. He adds: “Additional time has been granted and construction should begin this year.”
The Foundation’s aid exceeds 100,000 euros, to which must be added a grant from the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (Drac). “The budget for the work is 300,000 euros,” figures Christophe Mangé. The operation consists of restoring the retaining wall overlooking one of the moats, or even rebuilding it in places.
