Construction of the early chapel XIe siècle (≈ 1150)
First chapel of the castral site.
XIIIe et XVe siècles
Extension of the chapel
Extension of the chapel XIIIe et XVe siècles (≈ 1550)
Added a second part and frescoes.
8 août 1929
Classification of the chapel
Classification of the chapel 8 août 1929 (≈ 1929)
Protection under Historic Monuments.
21 mars 2024
Registration of the castral assembly
Registration of the castral assembly 21 mars 2024 (≈ 2024)
Protection extended to the remains of the castle.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Chapel: classification by decree of 8 August 1929; The castral complex of Argenton-Château, in total, comprising the elements of the enclosure, the remains of Philippe De Commynes' castle (the building adjacent to the north of the classified chapel, the central house attached to this classified chapel and the remains of the large house located east of the castral platform), excluding the master house as well as the more recent common buildings (in grey on the right-of-way attached to the decree), located on plots No. 88, 89, 90, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, section AE as shown on the plan attached to the decree: inscription by order of 21 March 2024
Key figures
Philippe de Commynes - Presumed owner
Associated with a house in the castle.
Origin and history
The castle of Argenton-le-Château, today in ruins, was a medieval building of which only imposing bases and a chapel remain. It is divided into two parts: an early 11th century chapel, and an extension of the 13th and 15th centuries. Under the chapel, a crypt communicated with the upper floor by a staircase, suggesting that the original building was larger. The preserved frescoes, including a Christ on the cross and a Saint George terrorizing the dragon, probably date back to the 15th century, as did the carved frame of the second chapel.
The remains of the castle include elements of the enclosure and houses, some of which are associated with Philippe de Commynes. The site, classified Historic Monument in 1929 for its chapel and inscribed in 2024 for the castral ensemble, dominates the confluence of Argenton and Ouère. The vaulted rooms adjacent to the chapel, as well as the frescoes and the very structure of the building, testify to its past importance, although its precise history and its occupants remain partially documented.
The chapel retains an absidial fresco and traces of wall decorations, while the 15th century frame, although partially degraded, attests to the architectural evolution of the site. The wall separating the two liturgical spaces still bears the remains of a primitive arch, highlighting the successive transformations of the building. Together, property of the municipality of Argentonnay, illustrates the medieval heritage of the region, between seigneurial defense and place of worship.
The 1929 classification preserved the chapel, while the inscription of 2024 extended the protection to the remains of the castle, including the house and enclosure. These measures aim to safeguard a fragile heritage, where military and religious functions are mixed. The absence of detailed sources about the occupants or specific events, however, limits the reconstruction of its history, apart from the architectural and artistic elements still visible.
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