Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Pastellière, located in Combrand in the Deux-Sèvres, is a building built in the late 15th century and early 16th century. It originally belonged to the family of La Pastellière, attested as early as 1378. Its defensive features, such as the water moat, the three round towers and the granite drawbridge, make it a typical example of the Renaissance castral architecture. The interior preserves a remarkable staircase, vaulted with dogive crosses decorated with coats of arms, while the chapel, next to a tower, bears witness to subsequent additions.

In 1641, the castle was still in the hands of the family of La Pastellière. In 1704 he was acquired by Charles Durant, a drug dealer and perpetual mayor of Bressuire, who then adopted the name Durant de La Pastellière. During the Vendée War (1793-1794), the castle served as a military hospital for the wounded Salesians and escaped a fire by General Grignon's infernal column. The interior transformations of the 18th and 19th centuries, like the layouts of the house, coexist with the medieval structure of origin.

In the 19th century, the castle changed hands several times: bought in 1889 by the Savary family of Beauregard, then divided in 1953 before being saved from the demolition by the Catta family, allied with the Durant de La Pastellière. In 1988, its facades, roofs, moats, towers and stairs were listed in the Inventory of Historic Monuments. Since 2003, a renovation combining modernity and respect for heritage has been undertaken by Foncier SA, the current owner.

Architecturally, the castle is distinguished by its slate roof with broken slopes, its skylights and its preserved defensive elements. The house body, rectangular and countered by towers, houses an advanced pavilion with a monumental staircase. The entrance door, Renaissance style, and the ogival vaults of the stairway illustrate the mixture of times. Despite additions from the 19th century, the granite building retains most of its original layout, offering the image of a medieval tale castle.

The protected elements since 1988 include facades, roofs, interior staircase with cage, moats with their corner towers, and access bridge. These protections highlight the historical and architectural value of the site, while allowing its contemporary adaptation. Today, the castle remains a testament to the social and military evolutions of the region, from the Renaissance to the Salesian conflicts.

External links