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Origin and history

The castle of Palluau-sur-Indre, located on a rocky spur overlooking the village, was built between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries. It was initially under the control of the Count of Anjou and Touraine, before going under English domination in the 12th century. In 1188 Philippe Auguste took it after an assault on the English troops who occupied it. The site, partially ruined at the end of the 12th century, was marked by the wars of Religion in 1560 and 1582, and then damaged during the local revolt of 1796, known as "Vendel de Palluau".

The remains of the 12th and 13th centuries, such as the base of the walls and a west corner tower, serve as a seat for the current buildings, rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries. The latter occupy the south-east and south-west sides of the site, with a large round tower to the east, vestige of the old fortress. The chapel, decorated with murals retracing the history of the Virgin, and a tower room also conserve painted decorations. The castle, classified as a Historical Monument in 1944 for its facades, roofs and paintings, illustrates the architectural transformations linked to the conflicts and political developments of the region.

Palluau-sur-Indre, shared between the influences of Berry (spiritual and financial) and Touraine (government and justice), reflects a complex territorial history. The castle, private property today, bears witness to the struggles between Capetians and Plantagenets, then religious and revolutionary disturbances. Its hybrid architecture, between medieval fortresses and Renaissance houses, makes it a characteristic example of the castles of the Loire Valley, marked by successive reconstructions.

Partially preserved ditches delimit the original rectangular space of the primitive castle. The legend attributes to the West Tower the symbolic gesture of Philippe Auguste planting the banner of France there after his victory. The current buildings, organized around a house, incorporate defensive elements such as the round tower, while sheltering residential and religious spaces, such as the decorated chapel. These murals, protected since 1944, offer a rare iconographic testimony of Marian devotion in the sixteenth century.

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