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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château du Pouyaud, located on one of the highest points of the commune of Dignac in Charente, is a building whose buildings range from the 15th to the 18th century. Its square dungeon, built in large apparatus in the 16th century, is surmounted by mâchicoulis and dominates the surrounding area. All of the buildings, arranged in horse-drawn iron, include 17th and 18th century facades, decorated with small wooden windows and a moulure door topped by a pediment.

In the 15th century, the fief du Pouyaud passed through marriage of the Fougière family to that of Prévost de Touchimbert. The tower was rebuilt in 1520, marking an important phase of its architectural evolution. The facades and roofs of the castle, excluding the wings in return, are inscribed in historical monuments by order of 9 June 1966.

The castle is associated with the family of Galard de Béarn, whose members of the Mirande branch were lords of the Pouyaud and Dignac in the 17th and 18th centuries. The latter are buried in the church of Dignac, highlighting their local influence. The monument thus embodies centuries of seigneurial and architectural history in New Aquitaine.

Dignac, a rural town 14 km south-east of Angoulême, is marked by a medieval heritage and a history linked to the pilgrimage of Santiago de Compostela. In the Middle Ages, the town was on a variant of via Turonensis, reinforcing its historical role in the region. The Château du Pouyaud, with its iconic dungeon, bears witness to this rich heritage.

The area, covered with forests like Horte, was once famous for artisanal activities such as the manufacture of barrels and charcoal circles. These contextual elements illuminate the living environment and the economic activities that have surrounded the building and maintenance of the castle over the centuries.

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