Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The château d'Herbault, located in the commune of Neuvy (Loir-et-Cher), has its origins at the end of the 15th century, although an earlier Roman occupation is mentioned. In 1525 it was rebuilt after a fire by Nicolas de Foyal, superintendent of Chambord's works, but only the main house body was completed at his death in 1582. His successor, Raymond Pélippeaux, acquired the estate in 1591 and added the communes and a chapel at the beginning of the seventeenth century. The castle, surrounded by moats on three sides, presents a rectangular plan flanked by cylindrical towers, typical of the Renaissance.

In the 18th century, the commons were reshaped, while in the 19th century, major changes transformed the south wing (destructed) and the east wing of the house, with the addition of a square tower. In 1924, a restoration was conducted by architect Paul Robert-Houdin for Pierre de Tristan. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1942, the castle now houses the Departmental Centre for Accompaniment and Education of the Loire Valley. Its French-style gardens, reconstituted, and moats testify to its past prestige.

The site illustrates the architectural evolution of the Loire castles, passing from the hands of nobles (such as the Foyals) to those of rich merchants in the region. The murderers, perhaps later added, recall the tensions of the era, while the transformations of the 19th and 20th centuries reflect the adaptations to new uses, from residential to institutional.

External links