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Origin and history

The Château d'Étangsannes, also known as Château d'Étangsanne or Étang Sannes, is located in Saint-Chabrais, in the Creuse department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It is located in the Haute Marche, two kilometres south-south-east of Chénérailles and 16 kilometres north of Aubusson. This fortified castle, originally dating back to the 12th century, originally belonged to the Potet family. It is mentioned under the name of Stangnis Sanis in 1396, before going through marriage to the family of Montaignac, whose branch adopted its name.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the castle was acquired by François-Philippe Loisel, an engineer and industrial pioneer of rural electrification in Limousin and Auvergne. His sons gave him in the 1950s, with his estate spanning four communes, to a private institution. The castle then changed hands, belonging to the Petit family until 2010, then to the Mesmay family. It preserves medieval elements, such as a 12th century square dungeon, as well as additions from the 15th century, including a body of rectangular houses and a round tower with machicolis.

The castle is remarkable for its 16th century painted ceilings and its staircase tower decorated with arms of the Montaignac. Ranked a historic monument since 1932 for its towers, facades and roofs, its inscription was expanded in 2012 to include the entire house, moat, floor and old garden. This site illustrates the architectural and seigneurial evolution of the High March, from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

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