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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château du Puy-du-Fou, located in the commune of Epesses in Vendée, is a monument whose oldest remains date back to the 11th–14th centuries. It was initially a strong castle, deeply transformed in the 16th century in a Renaissance style by Francis II of Puy du Fou (1496–1548). The architects Jean Masneret and René Guitton led the reconstruction, but the works remained unfinished. The estate, sold in 1659, was partially destroyed in 1794 during the Vendée War, when an infernal column commanded by General Boucret burned the castle and neighbouring villages.

Ranked a historic monument in 1974 and 1986, the castle was acquired in 1977 by the Vendée General Council. Under the impulse of Francis Ribémont, a departmental curator, an ecomuseum was built there, inspired by the museum principles of Georges-Henri Rivière. Although this eco-museum closed in 2006 (its collections being transferred to the Historial de la Vendée aux Lucs-sur-Boulogne), the site became the setting of La Cinéscénie in 1977, a historical spectacle created by Philippe de Villiers. The latter staged a Romance fresco of Salesian history, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era.

In 2013–2014, the castle underwent a new restoration campaign to welcome La Renaissance du Château, an immersive spectacle that plunged visitors into the atmosphere of the courtyard of François I. The interiors were furnished and decorated with hangings evoking this time, while the motto of the Puy du Fou, "C Today, the castle remains a central part of the Puy du Fou Park, attracting millions of annual visitors for its performances and architectural heritage.

Archaeological excavations carried out between 1981 and 1990 at the nearby Wood of the Pond were published in the medieval Archaeology magazine. This research, led by Jean Vincent, has helped shed light on the medieval occupation of the place, although its results are not detailed in the available sources.

The castle consists of two protected ensembles: the Renaissance Castle facades and roofs (including the ruins part) classified in 1974, and the remains of the "old castle" (XI–XIV centuries) classified in 1986. Owned by the Vendée department, it illustrates both the architectural evolution of medieval fortresses towards Renaissance residences and their contemporary appropriation for cultural and tourist purposes.

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