Origin and history
Oiron Castle, located in the commune of Plaine-et-Vallées in New Aquitaine, is an emblematic building of the 15th and 17th centuries, marked by Renaissance and classical styles. Originally, the seigneury belonged to the Oiron family in the 12th century, then passed into the hands of the Thouars, Amboises, and finally the Gouffier from 1449. Guillaume I. Gouffier, a favourite of Charles VII, became his first notable owner, before his son Artus, close to François I, undertook important works to make him a luxurious residence, inspired by the castle of Plessis-Bourré.
The Gouffier family, notably Claude Gouffier (grand squire de France), radically transformed the castle in the 16th century, adding a painted gallery dedicated to the Troy war, one of the largest in France after that of Fontainebleau. The castle reached its peak during its reign, even welcoming the court of Henry II in 1551. However, the wars of Religion in the 16th century and the looting of the Huguenots in 1568-1569 severely damaged the estate, which was partially restored by the Gouffier descendants, including Louis, who opposed the regency of Marie de Medici in the 17th century.
In the 17th century, Marshal François III of Aubusson, Duke of La Feuillade, modernized the castle by adding a Trophie pavilion and a forecourt inspired by Versailles, hoping to attract Louis XIV – who would never come. In 1700, Madame de Montespan, Louis XIV's favourite, acquired the estate and brought luxurious interiors, such as the earthenware of Nevers and woodwork. After his death in 1707, the castle passed into the hands of less illustrious owners, undergoing degradation during the French Revolution, before being restored in the 19th century by the Fournier family of Boisayrault.
Ranked a historic monument in 1923, the castle was expropriated by the state in 1946 in a state close to ruin. Major restoration campaigns, particularly between 1950 and 1975, save interior decorations, including the Renaissance Gallery and painted ceilings. Since 1993, the castle houses Curios & Mirabilia, a permanent collection of contemporary art designed to interact with its history, transforming the visit into a unique sensory and cultural experience. Today, it is managed by the National Monuments Centre and remains a place of creation and perennial heritage.
The 55-metre-long Renaissance Gallery illustrates in 14 scenes the cycle of the Trojan and Eneid War, attributed to the Jallier Christmas workshop or Italian artists from Fontainebleau. This decoration, restored several times ( 1950s, 1970s and 2000), is complemented by a ceiling with painted caissons and a painted floor of the sixteenth century, one of the largest still preserved in France. The stables, mentioned in the 16th century, bear witness to the importance of the estate as a place for hunting and breeding, while the gardens, renovated in the 21st century, now host contemporary installations.
Oiron Castle is also a popular filming venue, hosting programs such as Secrets d'Histoire (2013, 2019) and reports from France 3. Its history, marked by scattered art collections (works by Raphael, Primatic, or Holbein), political intrigues and ambitious restorations, makes it a historical and dynamic monument, where past and present coexist harmoniously.
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