Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Mons, located in the Saint-Pierre district of Royan, is one of the four monuments of the city before the 19th century that resisted the bombings of 1945. Originally, it was a noble house belonging to the 15th century Prior of Saint-Pierre de Royan, then to Pierre Dugua de Mons, explorer of New France. He sold it in 1599 to finance his expeditions, and the castle passed into the hands of several families, including the Morineau (1646-1736) and the Vallet de Salignac, traders enriched by the salt trade.

In 1737, the entrepreneur Pierre Caumont completely rebuilt the castle in a classic style, completing the work in 1745. In the 19th century, expansions were made, and in 1919 the site was transformed into a boarding school for girls. Damaged during the 1945 bombings, it was restored by architect Marc Quentin. Since 2015, it has been home to an institution for dependent seniors.

The castle is also marked by its link with Pierre Dugua de Mons, founder of Acadia and Canada, whose commemorative plaque recalls the presence on the scene. In 1980, excavations revealed the foundations attributed to the old castle, bearing witness to its centuries-old history.

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