Who built Château de Goulens?

The château's origins remain disputed: it may have belonged to the lords of Carboneau, to Fontevrault Abbey, or to both in succession.

Why were the towers decapitated?

During the Revolution, the tops of all three towers were removed. Two were reconstructed in 1878 during a major restoration campaign.

What can visitors see inside the château?

The château displays a salon with painted canvases of hunting scenes, a stone fireplace with sculpted cats in high relief, bedrooms with Aubusson tapestries, and a coffered ceiling.

Château de Goulens

Goulens Castle

Layrac

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Layrac

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Château de Plieux (Plieux Castle)the château is not open to visitors during summer 2022; for the rest of the year, visits by appointment only18 km
Château de Flamarens (Flamarens Castle)from €715 km
Château de Saint-Denis (Saint-Denis Castle)Open to visitors8 km

Sleep nearby

Château de Goulens stands in Layrac (Lot-et-Garonne), in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: 16th century, fourth quarter of the 19th century). The building is privately owned and no visits are on record.

Built in the 16th century at Layrac, Château de Goulens stands on a strategic defensive line between the Garonne and the Pyrenees. Its architecture combines a rectangular main building with three towers: two cylindrical towers to the south and an octagonal tower to the north containing a spiral staircase. Though their tops were removed during the Revolution, two towers were reconstructed in 1878 under restoration overseen by Alaux. The interior features painted canvas scenes of medieval hunts, a stone fireplace decorated with carved cats, and rooms hung with Aubusson tapestries from the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

What to know

The château holds monument historique status, with protection specifically covering the ground-floor salon and small office with their wall decoration.
The interior contains accessible rooms featuring period elements: a coffered ceiling, decorated fireplaces, painted canvases and antique tapestries.
Two of the three defensive towers were rebuilt in the 19th century following their destruction during the Revolution, while the north façade has never been restored.

Where this château is

Layrac · Lot-et-Garonne · Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Map of the area around Château de Goulens

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

166 Rte du Château de Goulens, 47390 Layrac

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Registered historic monument (inscrit); Mérimée record PA00084155
Period of construction: 16th century, fourth quarter of the 19th century

Frequently asked

Who built Château de Goulens?: The château's origins remain disputed: it may have belonged to the lords of Carboneau, to Fontevrault Abbey, or to both in succession.
Why were the towers decapitated?: During the Revolution, the tops of all three towers were removed. Two were reconstructed in 1878 during a major restoration campaign.
What can visitors see inside the château?: The château displays a salon with painted canvases of hunting scenes, a stone fireplace with sculpted cats in high relief, bedrooms with Aubusson tapestries, and a coffered ceiling.