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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Auxances, located in Migné-Auxances in Vienna (New Aquitaine), finds its origins in the 11th century with the construction of a first square dungeon surrounded by moat, intended to protect the ford on the river Auxance. This strategic site, mentioned from the Gallo-Roman era under the name of Magnacum, became over the centuries a place of power and conflict, especially during the Wars of Religion in 1568, where it was the scene of a confrontation between royal troops and Protestants of the Admiral of Coligny, killing 200.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, the castle was redesigned and enlarged, reflecting its importance in the local seigneury. In 1471, the Auxances lands were incorporated into the possessions of King Louis XI's chamberlain, consolidating his status. The family of Raze, owner of the 17th and 18th centuries, also marks its history, as evidenced by the communal coat of arms inspired by their own. The monument, which was profoundly modified in the 20th century during its transformation into a convent, nevertheless retained its dungeon, which had been listed as a Historic Monument since 1994, while the rest of the castle had been registered since 1927.

The castle is also linked to historical figures such as Henri Coandă, pioneer of the aeronautics and owner of the premises from 1941 to 1957, who leaves there a cross Christ still visible in the local church. Its architecture and location, dominating the Auxance Valley, make it a witness to the military and social evolutions of the region, from medieval conflicts to modern requisitions, as during the Second World War, where the nearby quarries of the Lourdines served as a place of torture and execution for resistors in 1944.

Archaeological excavations in the vicinity revealed traces of human occupation dating back to 300,000 BC (Acheulean tools), as well as Gallo-Roman and Merovingian remains, such as sarcophagi carved from local limestone. The Auxance River, whose name derives from a French word for a place planted with aliziers, and the quarries of the Lourdines — sources of stones for monuments such as the prefecture of Poitiers — complete this rich heritage, mixing military, religious and geological history.

Finally, the castle is inseparable from local legends, such as the appearance of a luminous cross in 1826, predicted seven years earlier by Abbé Suffering and observed by 2,000 people. This controversial but significant event illustrates the spiritual anchor of the site, between medieval heritage and popular narratives, while the modifications of the 20th century recall its adaptation to contemporary needs, between preservation and transformation.

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