Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château du Bois-Doucet, located in Lavoux in Vienna (New Aquitaine), presents a characteristic U-shaped plan, with architectural elements ranging from the 14th to the 17th century. The central body, dated from the 17th century, has an ordered facade in stone, while the north wing preserves old masonries pierced with Renaissance windows in the 16th century. The 14th century dry moat surrounding the building bears witness to its medieval origin, complemented by large cellars and a 15th century stone staircase with superimposed balusters.

Ranked historic monument in 1966 for its facades, roofs, moats and staircase, the castle combines defensive and residential styles. The north wing, with niches and mâchicoulis, recalls its fortified past, while the central body, with its baluster balcony and ion columns, reflects the 17th and 18th century developments. The gates of the park, the orangery (graffito dated 1651), and the 19th century chapel illustrate its evolution throughout the eras. Successive families, such as the Milcendeau (1522), the Rogiers (1603), or the Resty (XVIIth–XVIIIth centuries), marked its history.

The estate organizes around a park with starry alleys, vestige of a French-style garden now gone, and a geometric vegetable garden with circular basin. The well, decorated with a frieze of foliage, and the commons in limestone bellows complete this set. Major changes include the addition of balconies in the 18th century and the renovation of the west gate in the 19th century. Sources also mention a village attested as early as 1365, linked to the early history of the castle.

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