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Origin and history

The Château de la Prune-au-Pot is a rural castle built at the beginning of the 13th century in the commune of Ceaulmont, in the Centre-Val de Loire. It is distinguished by its location in the middle of a meadow, surrounded by defensive moats. Owned by the Pot family for centuries, it derives its name from this lineage. The castle preserves remarkable architectural elements such as monumental chimneys, screw stairs and carved gargoyles, typical of medieval art.

In the 17th century, the seigneury passed to the Bourbons before integrating the royal domain. The castle was also the home of Henry IV during the siege of Argenton, a milestone in his history. The fortified complex, organized around a square courtyard closed with mâchicoulis, includes a square tower (old dungeon), two round towers and a poterne with two ogival doors with drawbridges. A fountain supplies a reservoir located in the square tower, while a hexagonal room with latrines occupies the first floor.

Abandoned by the Pot family in the 15th century, the castle fell into ruins before being partially restored between 1985 and 1996 by volunteers of the Association Buildings Histoire et Architecture Médiévales. Acquired in 2000 by the Aguttes family, he was the subject of an inscription in the Historical Monuments in 1972, renewed in 2023, then ranked in 2025. Today, visits are possible in season, outside the main enclosure.

The architecture of the castle reflects its defensive and residential role, with elements such as the Colin Tower (rectangular, equipped with a semi-hexagonal turret staircase) and the house of the farmer, added to the modern era between the towers. The moat, although partially filled, recall its original protection system. The sequestration of land after the Revolution marked the end of its seigneurial status.

The restoration works have preserved unique details, such as mâchicoulis curving the walls or ogival doors of the poterne. Although the castle has not been inhabited since the 15th century, its history, linked to noble families and national events, makes it a valuable testimony to the medieval and post-medieval heritage of the region.

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