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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Retournay Castle, located in Marnes, New Aquitaine, is a small Renaissance building built in the 16th century. Its architecture, which remains intact, presents a square plan with sill windows on the four facades. Three skylights adorned with pilasters, a stair tower pierced with murderers, a scald and a breach over the door reinforce its defensive and aesthetic character. Inside, three large bunk chimneys, supported by decorated capitals, bear witness to the elegance of the time.

The castle outbuildings include a common with a drawbridge door, offering a first line of defense, as well as a set of servitude buildings surrounding the main body. These elements, combined with the facades and roofs protected by an order of February 25, 1965, underline the heritage importance of the site. The location, although documented (1 Returnnay, 79600 Marnes), remains approximate according to available sources, with an accuracy estimated at 6/10.

Ranked a Historic Monument, the Castle of Returnnay illustrates the Renaissance civil architecture in Poitou-Charentes (now New Aquitaine). Its exceptional state of conservation, especially for its interior decorations and defensive systems, makes it a rare example of a castle of this period that has escaped subsequent changes. Sources also mention potential contemporary uses, such as visiting or renting rooms, without further details.

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