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Origin and history

The castle of Onzain found its origins in the 12th century, when the lords of Bury, vassals of the Counts of Blois, made it their secondary residence. A pre-existing fortress, integrated into the defensive system of the Counts of Blois against the Counts of Anjou in the 11th century, is mentioned. In 1276 Guy de Bury was quoted as "Sire d'Onzain" in a charter of the Abbey of Marmoutier. During the Hundred Years' War, the fortress was occupied by the English from 1358 to 1380, before being rebuilt by Hélion de Neillac, a close friend of Kings Charles V and Charles VI, who added a dungeon with remains.

In the 15th century, the castle passed by alliance with Argenton, then with the Polignac, which expanded and added a chapel. Anne de Polignac, widow of Charles de Bueil, remarried to François II de La Rochefoucauld in 1518. The couple rebuilt the castle by keeping the cylindrical dungeon and adding two wings in square, while embellishing the local church. Their son, François III de La Rochefoucauld, Protestant leader, was killed in the massacre of Saint Bartholomew in 1572. The castle, confiscated by Catherine de Medici in 1562, served as a prison for the prince of Condé.

In 1642 Charles de Rostaing bought Onzain and joined the seigneury of Bury to form the county of Rostaing. His son, François de Rostaing, ordered a altarpiece for the church. In the 18th century, the castle changed hands several times: it was acquired by the Count of Varax, who received Voltaire there, then by Michel-Jean-Hugues de Péan, former governor of Quebec, before being demolished between 1823 and 1826. Today, a guest house occupies the place, in the middle of medieval moats.

During the Revolution, the castle belonged to Eugène-Joseph-Stanislas Foullon d'Ecotier, son of a guillotine intendant, who escaped death despite his imprisonment at the Conciergerie. The estate was finally seized in 1816 and fragmented to create the communes of Onzain and Molieuf. The demolition materials are sold, leaving only moat and a 19th century construction.

Onzain Castle illustrates the architectural and political transformations of the region, from medieval fortress to seigneurial residence, then to prison before its destruction. Its remains, including moat and protected elements such as Historic Monument since 2014, testify to its importance in local and national history.

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