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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Morinerie, located in Écurat in Charente-Maritime, finds its origins in the sixteenth century with Pierre Senné, Sieur de La Fourest, captain of the bridges and gates of Saintes. In 1593 he already lived in a "noble house" on this field, inherited from his influential family in the area, including his father Ythier Senné, mayor and king's attorney at Saintes. This first modest building marks the beginning of a line of owners linked to the royal and local administration.

In 1618, the estate moved to the Duval family through the marriage of Charles Duval, Sieur de Varaize, with Catherine Senné, daughter of Pierre. Charles, concierge of the royal prisons of Saintes, then passed the property on to his son Guillaume Duval. The latter, the king's attorney and lord of several fiefs, began the complete reconstruction of the house around 1670, replacing the old building with a larger house. The archives mention in 1690 the addition of a 94-foot-long wing, including cellar, pantry and attices, reflecting a desire to beautify and modernize.

The castle remained in the Duval family until the 18th century, before passing by inheritance to the Poitevins, of which Jacques-Nicolas Poitevin, a lawyer in the Bordeaux parliament, became lord of the Morinerie. In 1895 his descendants sold the estate to Gaston Charrier, merchant in brandy and mayor of Plassay. The castle, which was listed as historical monuments in 1969 for its facades and roofs, saw its gardens recognized as remarkable in 2003. Its architecture combines a body of elongated houses, a square pavilion with skylights, and a central dome in large apparatus, reflecting 17th century styles.

The history of the castle is also marked by strategic family alliances, such as the marriage of Marie Duval, heir of the estate, with François Bodin, a former servant who became a militia captain. These unions illustrate the social dynamics of the time, where local nobility, rising bourgeoisie and royal administration intertwine. Today private property, the castle retains protected elements, symbols of this rich and complex past.

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