First mention of castellam milieu du XIe siècle (≈ 1150)
Written act evoking the fortified site.
début XIIe siècle
Existence of a castle on a motte
Existence of a castle on a motte début XIIe siècle (≈ 1204)
Main motte still visible.
XIIIe siècle
Reconstruction of the castle
Reconstruction of the castle XIIIe siècle (≈ 1350)
Adding a tower and a house.
1372
Seat of the castle
Seat of the castle 1372 (≈ 1372)
Tower mentioned during a conflict.
1577
Castle in ruins
Castle in ruins 1577 (≈ 1577)
Abandoned after the Wars of Religion.
années 1770
Construction seigneurial residence
Construction seigneurial residence années 1770 (≈ 1770)
New building at the foot of the motte.
vers 1850
Development of the park with English
Development of the park with English vers 1850 (≈ 1850)
Creating a landscaped garden.
1855 et 1900-1910
Partial collapses of the tower
Partial collapses of the tower 1855 et 1900-1910 (≈ 1883)
Reduction to a third of its circumference.
4 février 2013
Protection of remains
Protection of remains 4 février 2013 (≈ 2013)
Inventory of Historical Monuments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The feudal motte, the remains of the castle that it carries (round and adjoining ruins), and the English garden on its slopes in the nineteenth century (cad. AB 325, 665, placedit Parc du Château): inscription by decree of 4 February 2013
Key figures
George Sand - Writer
Inspired by the castle for *Mauprat*.
Origin and history
The castellam of Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre, mentioned for the first time in the middle of the 11th century, probably monitored a strategic ford connecting the Limousin. This fortified site, whose oval motte (30-50 m base, 15 m high) is the main vestige, illustrates the importance of local fortifications during the Middle Ages. The motte, partially eroded by later constructions, retains traces of its initial defensive role.
In the 12th century, a wooden or stone castle probably occupied the moth, replaced or reinforced in the 13th century by a schist structure including a mâchicoulis tower and a rectangular house. These elements, partly preserved (including a south-west wall section), were the scene of a siege in 1372, marking their military importance. The tower, transformed into a dovecote in the 18th century, still symbolized the seigneurial presence despite the gradual abandonment of the castle, reported in ruins in 1577.
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the site evolved with the construction of a new seigneurial residence at the foot of the moth (1770s), enlarged by two wings perpendicular to the 19th century and raised to the 20th century. An English park, set up around 1850 on the slopes of the motte, became a popular place, inspired by George Sand for his novel Mauprat. This garden, with its box maze, and the medieval remains (turn collapsed in 1855 and 1900-1910) were protected by arrest in 2013.
The symbolic opening of the castle towards the city was materialized by a two-round entrance, evoking medieval architecture, established between the old and the new castle. Today, the feudal motte, the ruins of the tower and the park constitute a protected complex, owned by the commune, reflecting the successive transformations of a strategic, seigneurial and landscaped site.
