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Origin and history

Chiré-en-Montreuil Castle, mentioned in 1351, is a defensive building built on a rocky spur in the 15th century. Its ramparts, without flanking on the north and east sides, were naturally protected by relief. The south and west courtines, reinforced by round and square towers, were preceded by a ditch and a common barn and pigeonyard. The entrance châtelet, dated 1583, had a drawbridge and scauguettes, while the Renaissance openings were later blocked during the Wars of Religion.

In 1574 the Duke of Montpensier ordered the partial suppression of the castle after the Protestant defeat at Moncontour (1569). In the seventeenth century, the lords of Chiré transformed it into a comfortable residence, adding an external staircase dated 1644. Abandoned in 1974, it was bought by the commune in 1992 and restored. Its underground-refugee (60 m of galleries) and defensive elements (canonières, archères) make it a rare example of Poitevin military architecture from the 14th to the 16th centuries.

The seigneurial site includes a house pierced with 16th century ground windows, rooms with 17th century fireplaces, and a 360 m2 stone barn. Ranked Historic Monument in 1998 for its commons, home and dovecote, the castle illustrates the evolution of medieval fortresses in aristocratic homes. Its history also reflects the religious conflicts of the Poitou, marked by successive destruction and reconstruction.

The town of Chiré-en-Montreuil, in Vienna (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), preserves this heritage linked to the lords of Montreuil-Bonnin, vassals of the Counts of Poitou. The village, crossed by Auxance and Vendelogne, was also marked by recurrent floods (1982, 1999, 2010) and a rural economy centred on agriculture (breeding, vines, cereals). The castle, today communal property, bears witness to this local history between defense, seigneurial power and architectural adaptations.

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