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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château des Viscounts de Limoges, also known as the Château de Jeanne d'Albret, is a castle in ruins located in Aixe-sur-Vienne, Haute-Vienne. Built in the first half of the 13th century, it is distinguished by its octagonal enclosure, its two bodies of buildings, a lower courtyard and a chapel dedicated to Saint George. The dungeon, now destroyed, was demolished in 1809, and its stones re-used in local constructions.

The first mention of the castle dates back to 982, but it was between 1180 and 1220 that he played a key role in the struggles between supporters and opponents of the Plantagenet. In 1199, Viscount Ademar V broke his vassalic ties with Richard Lion's Heart, triggering a war. Richard took the castle, but found death there in Chalus-Chabrol. The site remains marked by major conflicts, such as the Hundred Years War and the Wars of Religion.

In 1206, Guy V built a tower and renovated the aula (large vicomtal hall), while integrating three knight houses into the enclosure. The remains, including a rock-cut well, have been listed as historical monuments since 2 June 2000. The site, which is now banned, is partly owned by the municipality and private owners.

The ruins, although degraded, preserve traces of their medieval past, such as the well orifice or the foundations of the walls. The castle illustrates the defensive architecture of the period and the political stakes of the Limousin, between fidelity to local lords and external influences such as those of the Plantagenet.

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