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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The medieval motte of Nids, located in Tournoisis in the Centre-Val de Loire region, is one of the few still visible examples of castral mots of the Beauce. Dating from the Xth–XIIIth centuries, it is presented in the form of a quadrangular terrace of 80 meters by 90, more than three meters high, surrounded by a wide ditch of 10 to 15 meters. This ditch, partially deepened in 1861, revealed vestiges suggesting an earlier occupation, including debris of potentially Roman constructions, fragments of pottery, jewellery and coins.

The site was probably integrated into a larger complex including a lower yard, typical of medieval fortifications. The 19th century excavations brought to light various artifacts, suggesting that the moth was built on an ancient Roman building. These discoveries highlight the strategic and historical importance of the site, although its precise use during the Middle Ages remains partially documented.

Ranked Historic Monument by order of 19 March 1991, the Nids motte and its ditch (cadaster ZI 23) illustrate the defensive architecture of the period. The current ditch, resulting from a clearing in 1861, retains traces of its original course, although its depth has been altered. The site offers a material testimony of medieval fortification techniques and their reuse of previous structures.

The location of the monument, in the hamlet of Nids in Tournoisis (Loret), is estimated with satisfactory accuracy (level 7/10). Although the practical information on visits is limited, its registration as a Historical Monument guarantees its preservation. Available sources, including Monumentum, confirm its status as an emblematic vestige of medieval Beauce.

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