Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château des Bernardières, located in Champeaux-et-la-Chapelle-Pommier, is a monument dating back to the 12th century, with major transformations in the 17th century. The site is marked by a military episode: the English, cut into the Rudeau wood on the rock of the Bernardières, were defeated there by Duguesclin. This fact of weapons illustrates the strategic importance of the place during medieval conflicts.

In the 16th century, Antoine d'Authon, lord of Bernardières, played a notable role in the history of the castle. After selling his seigneury, he distinguished himself by arming a ship in 1518, then becoming pasha d'Alger and admiral of the Ottoman fleet under the name Barberousse II in 1546. This atypical route links the monument to the maritime and Mediterranean history of France.

The architecture of the castle reflects its successive construction periods. The enclosure wall, pierced by a Henry II-style portal, surrounds an interior courtyard with a 13th century round tower and a 12th century square dungeon. The terraces, lined with Louis XIII balusters, lead to a monumental gate of the same period, spanning a stream by a double arch staircase. These elements illustrate the evolution of styles, from medieval to classical.

The castle has been fully protected since 2016, including the house, its outbuildings, the garden with its canal and hydraulic system. This inscription as Historic Monument underscores the heritage value of the site, both for its architecture and for its turbulent history, linked to both local conflicts and exceptional destinies such as that of Antoine d'Authon.

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