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Origin and history

The Château du Fou was built between 1460 and 1470 by Yves du Fou, Sénéchal du Poitou, on a quadrangular platform surrounded by moat. A 17th century engraving reveals a fortified ensemble with entrance châtelet, drawbridge and angle towers, typical of the defensive architecture of the late Middle Ages. The large bays and terraced gardens, organized around canals and fountains, bear witness to a Renaissance influence from the 16th century.

In 1539, the castle hosted a meeting between François I and Charles Quint, stressing its political importance. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the seigneury passed to the Tiercelin d'Appelvoisin family, then by alliance with the Marquis de Verteillac in 1795. The castle, sold in 1855, underwent modifications such as the suppression of the round road and the renovation of the roofs.

Bombed on 2 August 1944 during World War II, the castle lost part of its southern and northern wings. In spite of these destructions, today it retains remarkable elements: moat, poternae of entry with its two towers, turret of staircase with vault, as well as the remains of its Renaissance gardens (bassins, waterfalls, pediluve). Ranked partially in 1953 and registered in 2010, it illustrates the architectural evolution of the Poitou from the 15th to the 19th century.

The gardens, organized on terraces, reflect the theatricalization of water dear to the Renaissance, with a still visible hydraulic network (channels, fountains, rivers). The estate also includes commons, a farm, an orangery and retaining walls, testifying to its former fascist. The family of La Borie de Campagne owned it from the late nineteenth century to the twentieth century, ensuring its preservation after the damage of the war.

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