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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Benais, located in the municipality of the same name in Indre-et-Loire, has its origins in the 13th century, although the site is mentioned as early as the 12th century under the name Beniacum. The first attested lords, the Beaucay, marked the local history: Hugues de Beaucay accompanied Louis IX during the crusade of 1248. The seigneury then passed into the hands of influential noble families such as the Laval, the Bellay and the Montmorency until the 17th century.

The present building retains medieval elements, including two fortified entrance towers and commons, remains of a castle partially destroyed before the Revolution. In 1532, François I was received by Gilles de Laval, stressing his importance at the Renaissance. In the 19th century, a new castle was built by integrating these remains, supplemented by an orangery in the park.

Ranked in the Additional Inventory of Historic Monuments in 1929, the estate became owned by the city of Boulogne-Billancourt in 1949, welcoming green classes until its closure in 2017. Repurchased in 2021 by Paul Vaudeville, the site partially reopens in 2024 with an eco-tourism project, combining heritage and local dynamism.

The remains of the medieval chestnut, with its niches and mâchicoulis, testify to its defensive past. The fortified gate, enhanced and flanked by an octagonal tower in the 16th century, gives access to a terraced courtyard where the house bodies rise. Nearby, the remains of two large towers recall the old fortress, contrasting with the adjacent modern castle.

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