Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château du Douhet, mentioned in 1250, was acquired in 1521 by Briand de Vallée, adviser to the Parliament of Bordeaux, who made it a secondary residence. At his death in 1544, his son Nicolas, Protestant leader during the Wars of Religion, inherited him. The estate remained in the Vallée family until 1770, crossing periods of prosperity under Claude de Vallée and religious persecutions under Judith de La Rochefoucauld, banned in 1688 for his faith.

The castle changed hands several times after 1769, passing among other things to the bishop of Saintes, and was confiscated as a national good during the Revolution. In the 19th century, it was bought by banker Mathieu Faure, then saved from the ruin in 1946 by industrialist Jean-François Parfait Damilleville. Since 2009, it has been organized as a condominium after major renovations, while maintaining its main housing structure unchanged since 1544.

The architecture of the castle, marked by a U-house and a double-revolution staircase, reflects 17th and 18th century influences. Historical inventories (1544, 1658, 1793) confirm the structural stability of the building, despite aesthetic changes. The excavations of 2023 revealed elements mentioned in the inventory of 1658, such as coated walls and a latrine. The park, fed by a Gallo-Roman aqueduct, and the dovecoier of the 16th century (1916 bolts) complete this set classified historical monument since 1969.

The castle was a place of Protestant resistance, with figures like Nicolas de Vallée or Renaud de Pons, interned for his faith in 1686. After the Revolution, it became a national good before being restored in the 20th century. Today, it combines historical heritage and residential use, while preserving its original architectural features, such as vaulted cellars and the 18th century cooler.

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