Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Montmoreau, located in Montmoreau-Saint-Cybard in Charente, has its origins in the 12th century, with remains still visible today. The seigneury was attested in 1075 under Alo de Montmoreau, the first known lord, whose family ruled the estate until the beginning of the 14th century. The original castle, destroyed during the Hundred Years War, was rebuilt in the 15th century by the Mareuil family, who made it a manor house protected by enclosures.

In the 16th century, the castle passed successively to the Prévost families of Sansac, Rochechouart, and then to the Perry, an Irish family, until the mid-19th century. The Romanesque chapel, dating from the 12th century, is a remarkable feature of the site, classified as a historical monument in 1952. It consists of a nave and a threw choir, with vaulted apsidioles and missing frescoes. The 15th century house, flanked by towers and a polygonal turret, illustrates the defensive and residential architecture of the period.

The castle enjoyed various uses: gendarmerie in the 19th century, then devastation during the Second World War. Acquired by the artist M. Tête, it was partially restored. The facades and roofs, as well as the chapel, have been protected since 1952. The site dominates the Tude Valley, offering an architectural witness to the transformations between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

External links