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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The old castle of La Garnache, located in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region, is one of the oldest in the region. Its origins date back to the 10th century with the construction of a castral motte, followed by a fortress built in 1045 because of its strategic position between Brittany, the English Poitou and the Kingdom of France. The proximity of salt marshes reinforced its economic and military importance. In the 13th century, a stone castle, composed of six round towers and a square tower connected by courtines, was erected, surrounded by a fortified town whose remains remained in the 17th century, as evidenced by the plans of Mathieu Mérian and Christophe Tassin.

The destruction of the castle was ordered by Louis XIII in 1631, on the advice of Richelieu, as part of the struggle against the Protestants residing there. Some historians, such as Charles Mourain de Soudeval, specify that the decision to shave the castle was taken on 25 April 1622 in Apremont, after the battle of the island of Re. The towers were partially dismantled, including the large tower of the bridge, which was shot down on July 10 of the same year. Despite this destruction, the remaining towers were listed as historical monuments in 1925, thus preserving part of this medieval heritage.

Under the castle, a network of undergrounds was identified, including a corridor starting from the East Tower, crossing the mound and reaching near the Seudre Creek. This underground, independent of the cellars of the castle, ends on the north with a quasi circular chamber, without a bench, adding a mysterious dimension to this historic site. In 2017, the castle, which became a private residence, was put on sale for €997,500, prompting a local referendum for a possible takeover by the commune, finally rejected at 66% of the vote. The price was then reduced to €790,000, and a new buyer was found, as reported by West France in December 2021.

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