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Origin and history

The Castle of Avanton is built on the remains of a command of the Hospitallers of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. Its central body, erected in the middle of the 16th century by François Aubert, is distinguished by a central pavilion with a ramp staircase and two corbelled turrets. The facades, symmetrical and illuminated by sill windows, reflect the influence of the first Renaissance, with a monumental entrance door of red "evased cochenille".

The castle suffered two major damage: the collapse of its north wing in 1869, and its partial destruction by fire in 1922. Despite these hazards, it retains notable architectural elements, such as vaulted outbuildings in its basement and pavements from Bonnivet Castle. Listed as a historical monument since 1927, it bears witness to the medieval and reborn heritage of the region.

Nearby, the church of Saint-Laurent-des-Anges, dated from the 14th century, completes this heritage. It houses a 19th century high altar and two secondary altars dedicated to the Virgin and Saint Joseph, reflecting the additions of the Restoration period. The site was also marked by the discovery in 1844 of the cone of Avanton, a gold artifact of the Bronze Age, now exhibited at the Musée d'Archéologie nationale de Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

The village of Avanton, located on the Seuil du Poitou, enjoys a landscape of agricultural plains and an altered oceanic climate. His story is also linked to local personalities, such as painter Alfred Plauzeau (1875-1918) and chess player Romain Édouard (1990-), French champion in 2012. The castle and its environment thus illustrate the architectural, social and cultural evolution of this part of the Upper Poitou.

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