Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Chatelars, located in Meursac in Charente-Maritime, finds its first mentions in a document of 1411, but its history dates back to the 1360s. At that time, Perrinet de Chailly, lord of Châtelard, passed the estate on to his heirs, Raymond and Isabeau de Lyleau, and then to Hélie du Gua in 1411. The Gua family kept the castle for nearly two centuries, dividing into two branches: the eldest in Châtelard, and the youngest in Royan, where Pierre du Gua was born (1558-1628), a notable figure. The last male heir, Antoine du Gua, died around 1591, leaving the estate to his sister Marie, wife of Joseph de Montgaillard, lord of La Mothe.

From the 17th century, the castle passed into the hands of the Voyer de Paulmy family, notably after the marriage of Marie-Diane Joubert (1625-1683), the governess of the natural children of Louis XIV, with René de Voyer. The estate then becomes a secondary property, poorly maintained. After the death of Marie-Diane, the castle echoed his sister Angélique, married to Michel-Antoine Tambonneau, ambassador and president of the Chamber of Accounts. Several complex successions followed, until the castle was sold in 1753 to Louis Daulnis, a local lord.

In the 19th century, the castle changed hands several times: acquired in 1810 by Abbé Jean-Baptiste Bigot, it was sold in 1885 to Marguerite-Thérèse Montaury, who undertook a first restoration. Two other major campaigns followed, in 1929 under the direction of architect Michel Bridet for Émile Rouyer-Guillet, mayor of Nieul-lès-Saintes and heir to a dynasty of traders in brandies, then in 1948 to repair the damage of the Second World War. The castle was finally listed as a historical monument in 2001.

The architecture of the castle reflects these centuries of transformation, from its medieval origins to modern restorations. The work of the 20th century, led by architects such as Michel Bridet and André Morisseau, helped preserve this heritage, while erasing the traces of military occupations during the war. Today, Chatelars Castle bears witness to the turbulent history of Saintonge's noble families and their architectural heritage.

The historical sources, notably the works of Frédéric Chasseboeuf and Robert Colle, underline the importance of this monument in the landscape of the castles of Charente-Maritime. Its registration in 2001 devotes its heritage value, while recalling the challenges of its conservation throughout the centuries.

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