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Origin and history

The house of Puygâty, located in Chaduria in Charente (New Aquitaine), is an emblematic monument of rural seigneurial architecture. Built around 1465 under Louis XI, it illustrates the transition from the Middle Ages to the modern era, with 15th century defensive elements and 17th century redevelopments. The site, close to a geological cuesta and the ancient Roman route from Saintes to Périgueux (Boisné Road), was strategically situated for a small agricultural seigneury.

The first historical records concern François de Lage (or Laage), lord of Puygâty at the beginning of the sixteenth century and adviser to the presidial of Angoulême. This character embodies the social ascent of local elites during the Renaissance, although the architectural traces of this period remain limited. The present house preserves a medieval square tower, a door window, and a 17th century poterne with cochère door, reflecting the successive adaptations of the building.

The castle was partially rebuilt in the 19th century, notably to lengthen the house to the south, while defensive elements (premises, towering towers) disappeared. Only a round tower remains of the original fortified system. Two monumental chimneys of the late Middle Ages, preserved in the ground floor and first floor rooms, recall the relative comfort of the rural lords. The ensemble, registered with the Historical Monuments in 1987, also includes 17th century communes organized around a courtyard.

The architecture thus mixes medieval remains (slide with screws, brace) and classical additions (gates, roofs with four panels). The square tower, which dominated the whole, probably housed a monitoring system, while the entry poterne, typical of the seventeenth century, marked the gradual opening of the domain. The house of Puygâty thus embodies the evolution of Charentais seigneurial residences, between feudal heritage and adaptations to new modes.

Today, the monument remains a testament to the rural life of the small seigneuries of the Charente, where agriculture and the control of communication axes (like the nearby Roman way) played a central role. Its inscription in the Historic Monuments underscores its heritage value, although some parts, such as the missing corner towers, are no longer visible.

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