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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The dungeon of Curçay-sur-Dive is one of the few remains of a castle built in 1350 for Huet de Curçay. This monument, located in the department of Vienna, in New Aquitaine, illustrates the medieval military architecture of the region. It was erected to defend the territory against English incursions during the Hundred Years' War, a conflict marking this period.

Before the Wars of Religion, the dungeon was integrated into a larger ensemble, some traces of which remain: a 15th century chimney and the base of a round tower. The building, square in shape, features scalds, mâchicoulis and ravens, characteristic of the fortifications of the time. A staircase with screws serves its inside vaulted with crossed warheads. The main house body was destroyed during the Wars of Religion, leaving only this dungeon as a witness to local history.

Ranked a historic monument by order of October 28, 1965, the dungeon of Curçay-sur-Dive is now protected for its heritage value. Its location on the Dive marshes, west of the Loudunais plateau, makes it a key element of the region's historical and architectural landscape. Available sources, such as the Mérimée base and the works of André Châtelain, underline its importance in the evolution of castles in France in the Middle Ages.

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