The Demeure Historique supports the Château de Pagax (member of the Association "Les Demeures Historiques") and joins its restoration project
The "Château de Pagax" is located at the crossroads of two regions (Occitanie and Auvergne Rhône-Alpes) and three departments (Aveyron, Lot and Cantal). It is part of the former province of Rouergue and the Quercy border nearby.
It has a dominant position on the heights of Flagnac (place called Pagax), a town located at the exit of the Gorges du Lot, on the edge of this majestic river. Important fortress of the Middle Ages, it becomes castle in 1259, residence of a noble Royal official to fix the authority of the King of France in this region.
Placed on this dominant point, it controlled all the surrounding valleys as well as the very busy path of the Conques Abbey in Figeac.
"Pagax", pronounced "pagasse" (from the Latin Pagus, fiscal, payment) well indicates this role of control, passage required and paid. In the Renaissance, the castle will be transformed again. Several families of important lords will succeed there until the French Revolution.
The castle is listed in the supplementary inventory of historical monuments since 1978.
It is above all a kid's dream; who did not play being a kid to knights or princesses? From there, one day comes the desire to participate in an adventure out of the ordinary, the work of a lifetime or more: to acquire and save a castle.
The TV show of the 70s "masterpieces in danger" must be for something.
Starting from the principle that, when we want, we can, everything gets very fast behind. Discovery of Pagax Castle put on sale by its former owners and the first second of the first visit, certainty that it will be this one. A love at first sight for the castle, its environment, its mysteries and its legends.
A stroke of madness without thinking (it is better), and an enthusiastic welcome from the inhabitants of the village and the surrounding area that motivate us all the more.
What actions have already been taken?
The castle and its outbuildings were turned into a farm in the middle of the 20th century. Many small ancillary buildings have been added for this operation, these being built of concrete and corrugated sheets. The castle itself was overgrown with lush and abundant vegetation that partially concealed it.
The first works focused on the cleaning of all this vegetation and the destruction of all these buildings, real warts on buildings.
These first works took several years, and today, the castle and its outbuildings are well highlighted, as well as in light every night of the year.
In parallel, several events are organized regularly on the site, to make known or rediscover this castle so long forgotten.
Flea markets, "open door" days (quite easy to organize) on the occasion of Heritage Days, free visit during the summer, conference, reception and supplies during the passage of a trail running. ..etc.
So many events that allow many tourists and locals to discover the beauty of the site, the architecture of the castle, its history and its anecdotes. All this on a voluntary and free basis.
Since summer 2018, an association "the friends of the castle of Pagax" has been created. Its mission is to organize upcoming cultural events, participate in various works to improve public reception and raise funds to participate in the restoration project of the castle.
On Friday, March 8, 2019, part of this tower collapsed ...
Following our first crowdfunding campaign with Dartagnans and the Demeure Historique, thanks to you, we raised € 10,229. This sum, added to other financing allowed us to obtain a budget of 35 000 € allocated to the work of setting security of this tower of the staircase. The first work on the Pagax Castle for more than a century was to begin this month of May.
Unfortunately, the tower did not wait for us ... today the works are much more expensive than expected to rehabilitate it.
These first works scheduled for May will begin well. It will be to secure the rest of the tower at first, then begin rebuilding it on a sound basis. The budget is exploding and is in the process of being quantified, but nothing is impossible given the breadth of the messages of support received since March 8th.
The purpose of this campaign is to finance the security and restoration of the cylindrical tower called "the staircase", a major element of the castle Pagax.
Objective pursued and expected results:
The goal is to restore the entire staircase and consolidate the tower.
The lintels and jambs of the windows will be deposited and glued or replaced.
Backdrops will be completed or returned completely.
A new roof will help to perpetuate the whole.
This, of course, in collaboration and with the agreement of historical monuments.
Phase 1 : masonry:
- bearing 1: crane installation 12 000€TTC already funded
- bearing 2: scaffolding installation (+9000€) 21 000€TTC already funded
- bearing 3: clearance (+7000€) 28 000€TTC already funded
- bearing 4: stone masonry (+18000€) 46 000€TTC
- bearing 5 : chaining summit tower (+3000€) 49 000€TTC
- bearing 6: staircase (+23000€) 72 000€TTC
- bearing 7: windows (+20000€) 92 000€TTC
- bearing 8: corbeaux (+7000€) 99 000€TTC
Phase 2 : frame and cover
- bearing 9: installation and framework (+33000€) 132 000€TTC
- bearing10: cladding machicoulis (+23000€) 155 000€TTC
- bearing11: hangs cover (+3800€) 158 800€TTC
- bearing12: cover and lifting (+15200€) 174 000€TTC
This estimate of 174 000 € for the restoration of the tower was made before 8 March 2019 and the collapse of it. To date, we have not yet the last quote adjusted with this last event, but it should be significantly higher ...
For this new campaign, we have chosen levels of € 10,000. As soon as the first € 10,000 will be reached, we will go to tier 2 of € 10,000 as well and so on.
Simple individuals like you and with dreams in your head. This chance, we knew to seize it in passing, because often, it does not appear twice in a life.
Now, we must assume the responsibility that implies such a commitment. It is not always easy to see the size of the site, but the brief moments of discouragement are quickly forgotten, well surrounded by friends, family and the inhabitants of the village.
We are transmitters of heritage, because a monument like this does not belong to us. It belongs to the French heritage, this region, its inhabitants and their ancestors.
Besides, never have we ever thought of inhabiting the castle; this one must and will have to remain open to the greatest number, either by simple visits, or by organizing various cultural animations. We need all of you...
The tax reduction only applies to French or foreign donors resident in France for tax purposes.
Your donation is tax-free because it fulfills the general conditions provided for in Articles 200 and 238bis of the French Tax Code.
The parents of the owners up to the 4th degree (first cousin included) will not be able to profit from the tax reduction or the companies which have a capitalistic tie with the owners. The Historical Residence will not publish tax receipts for donations lower than 50 euros.
At the end of the collection you will receive a tax receipt from the Historic Residence which collects donations, and which will directly pay the companies at the end of the work.
- Individuals: 66% of the amount of your donation comes directly in reduction of your income tax, within the limit of 20% of your taxable income.
- Companies: you benefit from a tax reduction on companies, up to 60% of the amount of the donation within the limit of 0.5% of turnover (possibility of postponement over 5 years).
The granting of grants by patrons obviously imposes certain obligations on private owners of historic monuments, starting with the conservation of their building for at least ten years.
Second requirement: ensure the opening to the public of the parties that have been the subject of the works for the same duration and this, or 50 days per year minimum, including 25 non-working days from September to April inclusive, or 40 days during the months of July, August and September.
Patron or sympathizer friends, we thank you very much for participating in this adventure which is the restoration and the revival of the Castle of Pagax.
Thanks to your financial or moral support by sharing this project around you or on social networks, you become part of this extraordinary adventure.
You will thus join the long list of people who contributed to the radiation of the "Château de Pagax" since the Middle Ages. And this for eternity ...
Our website: www.chateau-de-pagax.com
