Henri de Navarre, future King Henri IV, inherited the Château de Vayres from his mother Jeanne d'Albret. He stayed there several times then, ruined, sold it in 1583 to Ogier de Gourgue. President of Guyenne's finance treasurers, Ogier de Gourgue is a rich and powerful character. He undertook the essential major works. The fortress was then transformed into an ornamental castle in the Renaissance style. In 1586, Ogier de Gourgue called upon a renowned European architect, Louis de Foix, who was the engineer of the Cordouan lighthouse and worked at the Spanish court. Louis de Foix created in Vayres the magnificent façade, with a mannerist decoration (Renaissance style finishing) and a great refinement, on the main courtyard.