Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Fromentières is a former seigneurial residence built during the reign of Charles VII in the 15th century. Located at the extreme northwest of Chinon, between the Loire and Vienna valleys, it was part of the parish of Saint-Louand and originally belonged to a king's squire. Its architecture includes two perpendicular wings delimiting a courtyard, as well as a polygonal tower housing a stone staircase, characteristic of the defensive buildings of the era.

Abandoned in 1906, the castle was listed as historical monuments in 1949 in a state of advanced decay. The first restoration work, limited to the south turret and clearings, revealed in 1968 the entrance of a stooped underground. It was only from 2006 that a complete reconstruction was undertaken by a new owner, giving the castle its original appearance after centuries of neglect.

The monument illustrates the evolution of the seigneurial houses in Touraine, moving from a medieval fief bound to the crown, especially under Charles VII, to an abandoned private property, before being reborn thanks to contemporary restorations. Its martelé coat of arms and its murderers recall its defensive role, while its open chimneys testify to the relative comfort of the local elites in the 15th century.

His successive owners included prominent figures such as Jacques de Verneuil, squire of Charles VII in 1408, or Calixte de Malherbe, commander of the Duchy of Touraine in the 17th century. These hand changes reflect the political and social upheavals of the region, from the Hundred Years War to the modern era.

External links