Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Durbelière, located in the commune of Saint-Aubin-de-Baubigné (associated with Mauléon) in the Deux-Sèvres, was built in the 15th century, then redesigned in the early 17th and 18th centuries. He is best known for being the residence of Henri de La Rochejaquelin, general of the Catholic and royal army during the Vendée wars. This historical link led to the burning of the castle five times between 1793 and 1794, reducing it to a state of ruins.

Transferred to the family of the Vergier de la Rochejaquelin at the end of the 18th century, the castle was severely damaged during the Salesian conflicts. Remnants, commons, moat, and dove were classified as historical monuments on January 8, 1996. Since September 8, 2023, the site belongs to the municipality of Mauléon and is managed by the association La Durbelière, which provides maintenance and animation.

Although partially destroyed, the castle retains remarkable elements such as its moat, pond and underground, today condemned. A model, exhibited in the town hall of Saint-Aubin-de-Baubigné, allows to visualize its original aspect. The commons and the dovecote, although degraded, still bear witness to its past architecture.

The castle is also surrounded by legends, including that of undergrounds formerly linking the site to the local church. These stories, combined with its turbulent history, make it an emblematic place of the Poitevin and Salesian heritage.

Future

He retains his beauty, despite the fact that he is in ruins.

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