Chateau de Costeraste, Medieval castle in Gourdon, France.

Château de Costeraste is a defensive building in Gourdon, Lot, founded from 1218. Its walls of light grey and beige stone blocks rise from a rough foundation to a steep dark roof. The upper level has four tall rectangular windows with brown wooden frames, and below them two small round openings with stone surrounds and metal bars. Faint circular carved medallions sit between the floors.

The castrum of Costeraste was founded from 1218 by the Ebrard family, knights of the lords of Gourdon, to guard the Céou valley and the roads to Cahors, Domme and Rocamadour. Rebuilt after the Hundred Years War, it was modified in the 17th and 19th centuries, then sold as a national asset during the French Revolution. The Boudet family acquired and restored it from the mid-20th century.

The castle shows how building styles adapted to suit the needs of different noble families who lived there over the centuries. The different architectural styles of each wing tell the story of how successive generations reshaped the place.

The castle is only open to visitors during Heritage Days, as it remains a private property owned by a family. Plan your visit around these special open days when the owners welcome the public inside.

The castle's name comes from the castrum founded by the Ebrard family from 1218, built to lock the access to Gourdon facing the Céou valley. The site overlooked both the road from Cahors and the one from Domme, letting its lords control pilgrims heading to Rocamadour from the south and from the sea.