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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Château du Chillou is a feudal castle located in Jaulnay, in the Indre-et-Loire department, in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Built in the 15th century, it was built in faith and tribute to Faye-la-Viuse. The monument, surrounded by moat, was listed as historical monuments on November 14, 1951. Its architecture consists of four bodies of buildings delimiting a rectangular inner courtyard, with a fortified door flanked by turrets and a chapel integrated into the north building.

The lineage of the Chillou lords dates back to Hardouin Maumoine, squire and seigneur of Chavigny (fl. 1329). Over the generations, the castle passes into the hands of the Maumoine families, Le Roy, and Dreux-Bossart. In 1506 he was transferred to François du Plessis, great-grandfather of Cardinal de Richelieu. The latter, heir to Chillou in 1619, integrated into the Duchy-Payrie of Richelieu erected in 1631. The Dukes of Richelieu kept the castle until 1805.

The Chillou Castle is characterized by defensive elements such as mâchicoulis, moats, and undergrounds with extensive galleries. The southeast tower, the chapel, and the dovecote (former northwest tower) illustrate its architectural evolution. The site, partially in ruins, bears witness to its strategic importance and its link to French political history, especially under Louis XIII.

Guillon Le Roy (c.1455-1528), vice-admiral of France and builder of Le Havre-de-Grâce, as well as his descendant Cardinal de Richelieu (1585-1642), deeply mark the history of the castle. The latter, the minister of Louis XIII, used Chillou as a base for his duchy, strengthening his influence in Touraine. Architectural transformations and family alliances reflect the power dynamics of the time.

Subsequent excavations and studies reveal complex undergrounds, extended far beyond the inner courtyard. These structures, combined with the archives, underline the military and residential role of the castle. After 1805, the site lost its status as a noble residence but remained a major architectural testimony of late feudalism and the Renaissance in Touraine.

Today, the Château du Chillou, although partially in ruins, continues to fascinate with its history linked to the great families of France and its preserved defensive architecture. Its inscription in historical monuments in 1951 guarantees the protection of this emblematic heritage of the Loire Valley.

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