Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The château de la Chétardie, located in Exideuil-sur-Vienne (Charente), finds its origins in the Chétard family, whose last heiress married Jean Trotti in 1500, thus founding the lineage of the Chétardie. This marriage marks the beginning of a family history linked to this domain, with Jacques-Joachim Trotti de La Chétardie (1705–1759) as an emblematic figure, diplomat and writer who marked the 18th century.

From the medieval castle of the 11th century, two towers with peppers remain, testimonies of its defensive past. The rectangular house body, rebuilt in the 17th century, was remodeled in the following century, including the addition of dry moat and an access gate. A rotunda piece, inspired by Russian architecture, is joined by Jacques-Joachim Trotti, reflecting his experience as a plenipotentiary minister of Louis XV in Russia.

Partially listed as historical monuments in 1973, the castle protects its facades, roofs, moats, as well as remarkable interior elements: a stone staircase and a ceiling painted in the eastern tower, ancient chapel. These protections underline its heritage importance, mixing medieval heritage, Renaissance and European influences.

The estate, originally linked to the principality of Chabanais, is organized around a main building with two separate towers. One of them, in the east, preserves painted panelling and would have served as a chapel. A rounded forebody, accessible by a stone staircase, houses a living room decorated with paintings and niches, illustrating the architectural refinement of the 17th and 18th centuries.

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