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Origin and history

The Château de Sainte-Hermine, located in Vendée in the Pays de la Loire, finds its origins at the end of the 13th century with the construction of a defensive tower on a language of land surrounded by the river. This strategic site, naturally protected by water and reinforced by trenches, quickly attracted a population seeking security in the face of the invasions and disorders of the time. The serfs, free settlers and artisans settled around the fortress, forming a town that gained importance at the expense of nearby towns like Thiré, without defences.

In the 12th century, the seigneury probably belonged to Pierre Troncas, then passed to the Mareuil family. The Priory Saint-Hermand, founded around 1120 by the Lord of the Reorth, marked the religious development of the site. The castle, originally called the tower of Saint-Hermand, became in the 14th century the castle of Sainte-Hermine, a name inspired by the castral chapel dedicated to Saint Irmine. This evolution also reflects the division of the village between two poles: one close to the castle (Saint Hermine) and the other around the priory (Saint Hermand), gathered only after the Revolution.

The medieval fortress had prestigious owners, including the families of Lusignan, Brienne, and La Tremeille. In the 16th century Charlotte-Catherine of La Tremeille, accused of poisoning her husband, the prince of Condé, sold barony to François des Nouhes, a companion of Henry IV. The latter, Protestant and governor of Fontenay-le-Comte, undertook with his son-in-law Jacques des Nouhes the reconstruction of the castle between 1620 and 1622, in a sober style reflecting their reformed faith. The architect Mathurin Bernard directs the works, as evidenced by a stone carved on the north facade.

The castle welcomed illustrious visitors: Philip III the Hardi in 1272, Henry IV on several occasions (notably in 1589 and 1598), and Louis XIII in 1622. He stayed there as part of his campaign against the rebel Huguenots, led by Benjamin de Rohan. A room decorated with lily flowers and royal attributes, rediscovered in 2004, attests to its passage. The monument, inscribed in the Historical Monuments in 2005, preserves medieval elements (such as the Tower of Bernard) and painted decorations of the seventeenth century.

After the Revolution, the castle changed hands several times, from noble families (Luynes, La Bretsche) to bourgeois owners such as the Landois-Buet in the 19th century. In the 20th century, it was acquired by the family of La Tour de Saint Lupicin, which organized cultural events there, including the French History Festival. Today, the site bears witness to nearly eight centuries of history, mixing military architecture, seigneurial life and religious stakes.

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