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Origin and history

The Château de la Faye, located in Villexavier in Charente-Maritime, dates from the 3rd quarter of the 17th century, with a construction certified in 1666. Originally, it formed a U-shaped ensemble, but today only the south wing and the southeast pavilion remain, the rest having been destroyed in the 19th century. The house, low with broken attic, is characterized by volute skylights and a dardian roof. A chapel, built in 1742, as well as the central body and outbuildings disappeared. The castle was sold as a national good during the French Revolution.

The seigneury of Villexavier belonged to the Guinanson family in the 17th century, before passing to the Saint-Simon in the following century. Claude-Anne de Rouvroy, Duke of Saint-Simon, Marshal of Camp and Member of Parliament for the Nobility in the States General of 1789, was the owner of this before he emigrated. The castle, which has been listed as a historical monument since 26 February 2010, preserves arched salons and fireplaces of the period, testimonies of its aristocratic past.

The current architecture reflects the transformations that have taken place: the north wing, preserved, has become a farm house, while the south wing and its pavilion house the "castle". The curved windows, the broken roof and the illuminated rooms on both sides recall the classic 17th century style. The site, although partially altered, remains a notable example of the seigneurial heritage of New Aquitaine.

Sources also mention missing elements such as an orangery, stables, a cistern and barns, typical of the noble estates of the time. The castle, now protected, offers an overview of the aristocratic life in Charente-Maritime before the Revolution, between architectural fascists and historical upheavals.

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