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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The donjon de la Rigaudière, located in Bouresse in New Aquitaine, is a building built at the end of the 15th century. It is a square building with a ground floor and three floors. Access to the floors is via a corner turret, and each level includes a large room as well as a corridor leading to a scald. The windows, some of which retain their hinges, illuminate the rooms on one side only. The ground floor has an additional opening on the facade supporting the scalds. Changes were made in the 17th century, particularly on openings and roofs.

The interiors of the dungeon are marked by the presence of a chimney on each floor. The entrance to the first floor room is particularly remarkable: it consists of a double porch with towel panels, topped by a carved wooden gallery. These architectural elements bear witness to a concern for ornamentation and comfort for the time. The monument was first mentioned in 1510, in connection with the lords of the Rigaudière, although its construction dates back to the end of the 15th century.

The dungeon was reshaped in the 17th century, reflecting an adaptation to the needs and tastes of this period. In 1929, the dungeon, including the door and chimney on the first floor, was included in the inventory of Historic Monuments by order of 3 October. This protection recognizes its heritage value and architectural interest, while preserving the traces of the transformations experienced over the centuries.

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