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Origin and history

The castle of Lusignan, built in the 10th century by Hugues II le Cher, is one of the largest castles in France. It was partially dismantled in 1168 by Henry II Plantagenet and rebuilt in 1171 by Hugues VIII de Lusignan. This medieval monument became the cradle of the lords of Lusignan, some of whom became kings of Cyprus and Jerusalem, like Lovey II of Lusignan.

Local legend attributes its foundation to the fairy Melusine, wife of knight Raymondin. According to oral tradition, Melusine, cursed for killing her father, turned into a snake every Saturday. Discovered by her husband, she fled in the form of a winged dragon, a scene immortalized in The Very Rich Hours of the Duke of Berry. This legend also explains the mythical origin of the kings of Jerusalem and the Counts of the March.

In the 14th century, Jean de Berry, brother of Charles V, modernized the castle. He served as a prison for historical figures such as Jacques Cœur and the future Louis XII. During the Wars of Religion (1574-1575), he was besieged by the Duke of Montpensier before being dismantled in 1586 on the order of Henry III. Only the Melusine tower remained until 1622.

In the 18th century, the Count of Blossac transformed the ruins into a public park, preserving remains such as walls, a cistern, and foundations. A part fortified by Vauban successively became prison, school, and then union of initiative. The site, registered as a historical monument in 1997, now combines history and legend.

The castle appears in the arts, especially in the illuminations of the Very Rich Hours, illustrating the escape of Melusine. He also inspired youth literature, such as Les Mysteries du château de Lusignan (1933). Excavations and studies, such as those of Charles Babinet (19th century), document its architectural and historical importance in Poitou.

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