The Albret's family

The original feature of Casteljaloux lies in the almost continuous attendance of the House of Albret from the XIth to the XVth century. This Gascon family descended from a little seigneury of Labrit ( this noun was given because they were plenty of hares (lebe) in the forests ). Very quickly, these modest lords started to extend and ally with the greatest princely Houses.

The origin of the town development definitely dates back to this period. Indeed, in 1979 Jacques Clémens rediscovered the charter of Casteljaloux in a pitiful state . This is the oldest original charter in the Lot-et-Garonne.
It dates between 1079 and 1095 and deals with the donation, given by Bernard d'Aiz de Lebret to monks from "La Sauve Majeure". This gift is actually a land located out of the walls of the "castrum" in order to establish a town and build a church. This act sets the rights of Justice, the fees, specifies the privileges and grants a place in order to the monks settled.

The layout of the medieval town dates back to this period. Fortifications were surrounding the town. Nowadays, some parts of the wall are still visible behind Notre Dame church or facing the Town Hall. At that time, three main gates used to let people come in Casteljaloux : the gate of the Castle which used to be topped by two slender towers looking like reversed panties. That is why it was named "Gargantua's panties". Then, the gates of Veyries and Saint Raphaël.