Initial reconstruction Vers 1780 (≈ 1780)
Reuse of old castle materials in ruins.
1789-1799
Sale as a national good
Sale as a national good 1789-1799 (≈ 1794)
Confiscated during the French Revolution.
1843
Major transformation
Major transformation 1843 (≈ 1843)
Louis XIII style adopted, wings demolished.
26 mai 1986
Registration historical monument
Registration historical monument 26 mai 1986 (≈ 1986)
Protection of the castle and its park.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Castle; park and water body with their architectural elements (cad. D 559, 245 to 249, 561, 562) : entry by order of 26 May 1986
Key figures
Marquis propriétaire (non nommé) - Former owner
Recaptured the castle after emigration.
Origin and history
The Château le Petit Chêne, located in Mazières-en-Gâtine in Les Deux-Sèvres, was built in the 19th century as a seigneurial residence. Originally, he replaced an older building whose materials were reused around 1780. The Revolution saw him sold as a national good before being recovered by his Marquis owner after his return from emigration. In 1843 he underwent a major transformation: his wings were demolished and the central body remodelled in a Louis XIII style, typical of 19th-century eclecticism.
The castle is distinguished by its architecture combining neoclassicism and regional influences, with facades decorated with sculptures, various skylights and Tuscan or ionic capital porches. Its interior preserves period woodwork, paintings and fireplaces, while its park, partially preserved, includes a piece of water and elements of landscape architecture such as mythological sculpture niches. These features illustrate the taste of the 19th century for reinterpretation of past styles.
The castle and its park (including the water body) have since been included in the inventory of historical monuments in 1986 and have been protected for conservation. Open to the public, it offers guided tours highlighting its history, architecture and French-style gardens. The site also hosts cultural events, combining heritage preservation and local animation.
The seigneury of the Petit-Chêne, attested before the Revolution, reflects the social organization of the Old Regime in Poitou, where seigneurial residences played a central role in economic and social life. The post-revolutionary reconstruction and the transformations of the 19th century testify to the architectural changes and the stakes of representation of the local elites under the Restoration and monarchy of July.
Today owned by a private company, the castle remains a major architectural testimony of the New Aquitaine region. Its location in Mazières-en-Gâtine, accessible from the nearby roads, makes it a popular place to visit, combining historical heritage and preserved natural surroundings. GPS coordinates (46° 30′ 31′′ N, 0° 20′ 23′′ W) allow it to be located precisely in the Deux-Sèvres department.
