Marcellus: Château, Venus de Milo and Garonne

Marcellus can be understood through clearly distinguishable themes: château history, church architecture and waterways. The most striking are the Château de Marcellus, with its furnishings and connection to the Venus de Milo; the parish church of Saint-Pierre; and the Canal des Deux Mers and the short stretch of boundary along the Garonne. Before booking, you can consider whether architectural history, the historical story of the Venus or the town’s geography will matter most for your stay.

Château de Marcellus and the Venus de Milo

The Château de Marcellus is partially protected as a historic monument. Its original furnishings have been preserved in its grand and small salons. The partially protected Château de Marcellus preserves the original furnishings in its grand and small salons. The Château is privately owned and houses a copy of the Venus de Milo.

The history surrounding the Château also has two distinct connections. The Château was home to the Count of Marcellus. During the Restoration, a diplomat played a key role in the purchase of the Venus de Milo and its arrival in France. The copy in the Château should be distinguished from the historical purchase of the original. The story of the Count and the Venus’s journey to France thus stand alongside one another as separate themes connected to Marcellus.

Parish church of Saint-Pierre

The parish church of Saint-Pierre adds a different architectural and historical context to the Château. It has a Romanesque portal, described in 1849. A crypt for the Counts of Marcellus was also built in one of the parish church’s chapels. The difference from the Château is specific: the building there was home to the Count; at Saint-Pierre, the crypt is in a chapel. The portal adds a third point of interest as a Romanesque architectural feature. To understand the town’s history, you can consider the château, church portal and crypt in their respective locations.

Canal des Deux Mers and Garonne

The Canal des Deux Mers runs through Marcellus. Along the Garonne, the commune borders the left bank for a length of 50 metres. The two statements describe different geographical relationships: the canal runs through Marcellus, while the Garonne forms the commune’s boundary along a short stretch. The 50 metres refer to the length of this boundary, not a distance to travel. So, when placing Marcellus geographically, you can distinguish the canal’s route through the commune from its short stretch of riverside boundary along the Garonne.

Route starting in Marcellus

The route “Marcellus et la Vénus de Milo” starts in Marcellus. Its title refers to the Venus de Milo, and its starting point explicitly places the route in the commune. This adds a named route context to the château and church connections. When deciding how to prioritise the historical themes in your travel plans, you can also take this starting point into account alongside the buildings.

Discover more destinations

Peyrière, Lagarrigue, Cocumont, Castelnau-sur-Gupie, Saint-Aubin, Port-Sainte-Marie, Tourliac, Allemans-du-Dropt

For the overview of the wider region: Lot Et Garonne.