Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Châteaugay Castle was founded in 1381, when its first stone was laid. The donjon and part of the chapel, in the Gothic style of the fourteenth century, are the oldest elements. These structures, together with two round towers and an adjacent building, still retain today their characteristic mass of this period, although the mâchicoulis and the dungeon slots were rebuilt in the sixteenth century. The outer enclosure, largely extinct, leaves only two fortified gates marked by crows of mâchicoulis, evidence of the fortifications of origin.

The additions of the 15th and 16th centuries enriched the architectural complex, including a large staircase in the courtyard and second floor windows dating from the early 16th century. The central courtyard, surrounded by quadrilateral buildings, houses the five-storey square dungeon to the west, while the north side is flanked by round towers. The adjoining church, with three naves, incorporates a 14th century northern nave, probably the ancient castral chapel, while the other parts are more recent.

Ranked Historic Monument by order of 4 April 1911, the castle underwent modifications until the 19th century. Today owned by the commune of Châteaugay, it is open to the public in summer and hosts temporary exhibitions. Its architecture thus reflects almost five centuries of evolution, from medieval origins to Renaissance developments.

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