Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Rochemaux, located in Charroux (New Aquitaine), has its origins in the 15th century as a feudal castel. In the 17th century, a major reconstruction was undertaken on these medieval foundations, giving rise to a rectangular main building framed by square pavilions. The traces of this architectural evolution include carved skylights, foothills and chimneys of both periods, still visible today.

In the 18th century, the castle was divided between two owners, resulting in structural changes. One of them demolished a corner pavilion and re-opened the openings, decentralizing the front door to the façade. These transformations altered the initial equilibrium of the court, once closed by now extinct lateral wings. The basement preserves rooms with medieval chimneys, testimonies of the original castel.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1982 for its facades and roofs, the Château de Rochemaux remains a private property not open to the public. Its present state thus reflects the strata of its history: a medieval heart redesigned in modern times, marked by architectural choices dictated by estate divisions. The protected elements (lucarnes, pavilions, fireplaces) illustrate this duality between feudal heritage and classical adaptations.

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