Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Mornay Castle, located in Saint-Pierre-de-l'Isle in Charente-Maritime, has its origins at the end of the 16th century, although it replaces an older building with a tower, known as the "Chardon". This monument, typical of the transition architecture between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, is characterized by a house in square flanked by two square towers with mâchicoulis, connected by a gallery painted with mythological scenes inspired by the Metamorphoses d Whilst Ovid. These frescoes, formerly wrongly attributed to Nicolas Poussin, actually date back to the 17th century and evoke those of the castle of Oiron, although their quality and style clearly distinguish them.

The castle has undergone several phases of transformation and sale, including its acquisition in the year VI (1797-1798) by Jean-Joseph Gast, former guard of the Porte du Roi, and his wife Marie Marguerite Carayon, who came from a family of merchants from Rochelais. In the 19th century, the interiors were fitted out in the 18th century style, even housing cardboard tapestry by François Boucher. However, a fire in 1947 destroyed much of the interior decor, including the painted gallery and apartments. Since 1949, the castle, its gate, the Chardon Tower and its park have been listed as historic monuments.

The architecture of the castle combines medieval defensive elements, such as moats, machicoulis and niche towers, with Renaissance and classical additions. The house, surrounded by moat, forms an unfinished L building, possibly originally designed in a quadrilateral plane. The basements, vaulted dogives, suggest older foundations or a persistence of Gothic style in Poitou. The "Tour du Chardon", isolated and dating from the 16th century, recalls the refuge towers of the period, while the park, inscribed in 1942, extends along the river Button, decorated with statues of the 18th and 19th centuries and remarkable trees.

Today, Mornay Castle welcomes guest rooms, receptions and seminars, while opening its park to visit. This place, marked by centuries of history and transformation, illustrates the evolution of the tastes and functions of castles in France, from fortresses to seigneurial residences, then to establishments dedicated to hospitality and tourism.

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