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Origin and history

Puyvidal Castle, also known as the Puy Vidal Castle, is a French castle located in Saint-Projet-Saint-Constant, near La Rochefoucauld, Charente. Built on a feudal motte, it dominates the Bandiat valley. Its origin dates back to at least the thirteenth century, with architectural traces like the three cylindrical towers. The first certified lord, Guyot David, paid tribute in 1267 to the Count of Angoulême Hugues de Lusignan, marking his entry into written history.

The castle changed hands several times by inheritance or dowry, especially in 1456, when it passed to Charles de Livron. Livron's family kept it until 1908. The house, rebuilt between the late 15th and early 16th centuries, has defensive features such as sled windows and an adorned ogival door. In the 19th century, major modifications transformed roofs into terraces and replaced a tower with a rectangular pavilion.

The gardens, created in 2002, are classified as "remarkable garden" and combine lawns, maze of boxwood, cypress alleys and floral spaces. The castle, listed as a historic monument in 2006, now houses a centre of creative retreats (painting, yoga, writing). It remains closed to the public outside of these activities.

The architecture combines medieval elements (lighted screw staircases, Gothic fireplaces) and 19th century additions, such as flat roofs surrounded by balustrades. The south facade, more worked, contrasts with the sobriety of the north facade. Inside, there are dust and chimneys from the 17th and 19th centuries.

The site is linked to the local seigneury and feudal history of Angoumois. Its evolution reflects the adaptations of a medieval fortress as a seigneurial residence, then in place dedicated to artistic creation. The sources also mention its potential role as a court room, although its transformation into an apartment has erased these traces.

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