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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château du Hallier, located in Nibelle in the Loiret, is a building built in the first half of the 16th century, with modifications in the 17th century. It is presented as a quadrilateral with ten circular towers, built of brick with apparent stone links. The west entrance, with a dormant bridge redone in 1939, probably dates from the seventeenth century. To the left of this entrance, a covered gallery from the middle of the sixteenth century leads to a second gallery along the north courtine. The adjacent lower rooms, built in the 16th century, may be based on previous infrastructure. The courtine is home to double-nave stables, while an old pottery oven, perhaps a primitive chapel, ties to it. A 17th century barn advanced on the courtyard and agricultural buildings complete the whole, surrounded by moats arranged in flowered beds.

The history of the castle is marked by major transformations. Sold in 1537 to Charles de l'Hospital, it is quoted in acts from the 15th century, with a spiral staircase dating perhaps from this period. In the 18th century, the castle served as a "career", losing its second square floor. In the 19th century, it became a farm, and one of its towers was used as a pottery oven until the early 20th century. Listed as an inventory of historic monuments in 1967, the castle can be visited on Heritage Days or upon request.

Available sources, including Wikipedia and the Merimée base, highlight its typical Renaissance defensive architecture, mixing brick and stone. The moat, though transformed, recalls its medieval origin, while the covered galleries and stables illustrate its adaptation to residential and agricultural needs over the centuries. The partial demolition of the central tower of the façade is and the disappearance of certain elements reflects the vicissitudes of its history, between abandonment and functional reuse.

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