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Origin and history

Vibrac Castle was a medieval building located on an island in the Charente, between the towns of Vibrac and d-Angeac-Charente. Its remains, still visible from the road, bear witness to an ancient occupation, with traces of tribute to the lords from 1290. The site could have housed a first castle as early as the 13th century, in a context of defence against the Norman invasions, as evidenced by the Fossé in the Count, a 20 km trench dug by the Counts of Angoulême before the 9th century.

In the 14th century, the seigneury of Vibrac belonged to the family of Montchaude, who paid homage to the king of Navarre in 1328. In the 15th century, the medieval fort was replaced by a castle under the family of Mareuil, lords of Villebois. This castle, designed by Claude Chastillon in the 16th century, featured round towers and a forecourt lined with pavilions. The renovations of the 17th and 18th centuries, especially under the Duke of Navailles, added classical elements such as dome-covered stairs and a balustrade terrace.

The seigneury changed hands several times through alliances or sales: from Anjou-Mézières to Bourbon-Montpensier (XVI century), then to the Duke of Épernon (1596) and finally to Pompadour and Courcillon (XVIII century). Ruined, the castle was auctioned in 1801 and fell into ruins. In 2020, a crowdfunding campaign was launched for its restoration, led by the Dartagnans association.

Today, the castle remains only a chapel, a bridge, commons, and ruins invaded by vegetation. Among the notable remains are a split medieval square tower, an 18th-century entrance façade with three arches in basket cove, and 15th-century walls. The whole originally formed a trapeze, with the castle itself closing the north side.

The site is linked to local historical events, such as the Carmouche of 1569 between the troops of the Duke of Anjou and those of the Prince of Condé, reflecting the religious tensions of the time. Its architecture thus blends medieval defensive elements with Renaissance and classical additions, typical of seigneurial residences redesigned over the centuries.

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