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Origin and history

Valençay Castle in Antran is a historical monument built on a natural motte, typical of 15th century military architecture. It is distinguished by its mâchicoulis, niches and four round towers flanking a square plane. The vaulted cellars in the middle of the hangar, established on a network of galleries, and a well of 33 meters deep on the eastern side testify to its defensive use. The windows were pierced in the 17th century, and the back of the building was redesigned at that time.

Inside, the ground floor houses three rooms, including a preserved monumental tapestries dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, probably from the Château de Richelieu. The tower adjacent to the living room has a dome vault, while in the southeast there are commons and a runaway dating also from the seventeenth century. The dungeon and a square tower of the enclosure may date back to the 15th century, but the house and dungeon were redesigned in the 19th century.

The castle served for military purposes until 1944, marking a long strategic history. The facades, roofs, commons and the leak were inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 15 September 1964. Mentioned in 989, the site illustrates the architectural and functional evolution of a medieval fortress adapted to the needs of later times.

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