Château de Lézignac, Medieval castle in Graulhet, France

Château de Lézignac is a rectangular 40-metre-long, 10-metre-wide and 15-metre-high logis near the Dadou, on the road to Lisle-sur-Tarn. Two towers flank its western end; the taller one, brick-built like a keep, contrasts with the local sandstone. A small dovecote turret rises from the middle of the north facade, and the entrance door is dated 1561.

In 1159 the estate was given to Candeil Abbey by Sicard V, Viscount of Lautrec; a 12th-century underground passage and cellar remains show an earlier building already stood. The abbots built the present château in the 15th and 16th centuries, and after 1851 works removed the chapel and the last traces of the Cistercian grange. Sold as national property during the Revolution, it was abandoned in the 20th century and a fire on 7 August 2017 destroyed the roof.

The castle reflects a mix of medieval and Renaissance styles that developed over centuries of habitation and rebuilding. The surviving decorative elements like fireplaces and doorways give insight into how affluent residents lived in this region during different periods.

The site is currently not accessible due to severe fire damage from August 2017 that left only partial walls standing. Visitors should stay outside the perimeter for safety reasons and view the structure from a distance.

The oldest sections of the building, the cellars, date to the 12th century while the upper floors were added later between the 15th and 16th centuries. These distinct construction phases are visible in the architectural details that show how the structure evolved across multiple generations.