Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Aubraye Castle is a Renaissance building built in the 4th quarter of the 16th century, located in the commune of La Reorthe (Vendée). It is distinguished by its quadrilateral plan, its four corner towers and its moats, typical of the defensive architecture of the period. The site, surrounded by meadows and woods, illustrates the integration of castles into their natural environment during the Renaissance.

The first certified seigneur was Nicolas Suriette, followed by his descendant Louis Suriette, who undertook a major restoration between 1575 and 1577. The castle then passed to the Suzannet families, of the Bois de la Touche and Crugy de Marcillac, before being acquired in 1791 by an ancestor of Georges Clemenceau. He spent his childhood there before continuing his studies in Nantes. The estate, which remained in the Clemenceau family, was classified as a Historic Monument in 1928.

The history of the castle reflects the social and political transitions of France, from the Renaissance to the Revolution. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments underlines its heritage importance, linked both to its architecture and to its association with a major figure in French history, Georges Clemenceau. However, the site is not open to the public today.

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