Origins of the castle XIIe siècle (≈ 1250)
First mention of a fortification on the site.
XVe et XVIe siècles
Main construction campaign
Main construction campaign XVe et XVIe siècles (≈ 1650)
Period of construction of the dungeon and dovecote.
21 octobre 1932
Registration of the dungeon
Registration of the dungeon 21 octobre 1932 (≈ 1932)
Protection of skunks and dungeons.
4 octobre 2010
Registration of the dovecote
Registration of the dovecote 4 octobre 2010 (≈ 2010)
Complete classification of the dovecote as a historical monument.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The dungeon with its two scauguettes: inscription by decree of 21 October 1932 - The dovecote of the castle in its entirety (Cd.E 203): inscription by order of 4 October 2010
Key figures
Information non disponible - No characters cited in the sources
The texts do not mention any specific names.
Origin and history
The château du Chiroux, located in Peyrat-la-Nonière in the department of Creuse (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), is a historical monument dating back to the 12th century, although its main construction dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries. It is the oldest of the four listed monuments in the municipality, combining defensive and residential functions through its rectangular dungeon and its features characteristic of late medieval architecture.
The dungeon-logis of the castle, accompanied by two scauguettes, was inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 21 October 1932. Its dovecote, particularly imposing with 1166 bolts spread over 23 rows, illustrates the prestige of the small local nobility. This circular dovecote, 10 meters high and built in rubble, presents defensive and symbolic elements, as a gallows still partially visible. A second inscription, dated 4 October 2010, protects all of this dovecote, witness to the seigneurial and agricultural organization of the Limousin.
Architecturally, the château du Chiroux reflects the adaptations of medieval fortresses to Renaissance residential needs. The site, although partially deteriorated, preserves traces of its defensive past, such as access bays for pigeons or doors connecting the dovecote to the dungeon. These elements underline the dual role of the castle: a place of power for its lords and economic center for the surrounding lands, marked by the presence of a dovecote with an exceptional capacity for the region.
The location of the castle, in a rural area of the Creuse, recalls the importance of small seigneuries in the territorial organisation of the Limousin. These castles, often modest compared to the great fortresses, played a key role in the management of local resources, as evidenced by the dovecoier, symbol of seigneurial rights and control over agricultural land. Their preservation today offers an overview of the social and economic dynamics of the late Middle Ages and early modern times.
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