Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Sandre, located in the commune of Change in Dordogne (New Aquitaine region), consists mainly of a 13th century square tower, the only vestige of the original castle. This dungeon, with mâchicoulis on crows, lost its original crown. Its defensive architecture, initially devoid of openings, was subsequently drilled into gun fire, reflecting an adaptation to military developments.

In the 15th century, two buildings in return for square were joined to the tower. One has a stone staircase, while the other has cruciform windows, characteristic of the civil architecture of the late Middle Ages. A stretch overlooks the entrance door, surmounted by a coat of arms, testifying to the seigneurial status of the place. These additions transform the castle into a more residential home, while retaining defensive elements.

Ranked among historical monuments since 1965 (a decree protecting facades and roofs), the castle is not visited. Its material history, marked by these two phases of construction, illustrates the transition between castle and aristocratic residence in Périgord. The sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) underline its architectural interest, although its exact location causes debate between Le Change and Bassillac and Auberoche, the latter being mentioned as approximate GPS address.

The site is associated with the Merimée base (reference PA00082400) and the Insee code 24026 of the Dordogne. Its present state, partially preserved, offers a representative example of the transformations of perigordin castles between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, in a rural context marked by conflicts (the Hundred Years War) and the affirmation of local seigneuries.

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