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Origin and history

The palace of the Dukes of Aquitaine and Counts of Poitiers, located in Poitiers in Vienna, is an emblematic monument of the Gothic Angelvin. Former ducal palace of the twelfth century, it was partially rebuilt by the Duke of Berry from 1380 after a fire in 1346. It consists of a large Gothic hall flamboyant 50 meters long, called aula or "room of the not lost", and an unfinished dungeon, the Manbergeon Tower, defended by four round towers. This palace, classified as a Historical Monument in 1862, was the seat of royal justice from 1418, then of the Court of Appeal until 2019.

The site has an ancient origin: a first Carolingian palace, built in the 9th century for Louis le Pieux, was destroyed by fire in 1018. Reconstructed by Guillaume V of Aquitaine, it was enlarged by Guillaume IX, who added the Maubergeon tower around 1104. Alienor of Aquitaine built the large hall between 1160 and 1190, decorated with sculptures linked to St Peter's Cathedral. Damaged during the Lancastre ride in 1346, the palace was restored by Jean de Berry between 1388 and 1416, with monumental chimneys and statues of sovereigns, including Charles VI and Isabeau of Bavaria.

The large hall, one of the largest in Europe with Westminster Hall, served as an exceptional place of justice, as on the Great Days of Poitou (1454–88). In the 19th century, architect Vetault added a neoclassical facade and a monumental staircase. After the departure of the courts in 2019, the palace, acquired by the city of Poitiers, is now dedicated to cultural events. Archaeological excavations (2020–2023) still explore its basement and the Manbergeon Tower, revealing remains of the 11th–13th centuries.

The garden and remains of the Hall Bridge, included in the basement, have been protected since 1930 and 1957. The Maubergeon Tower, rebuilt from 1408, preserves a vaulted room and sixteen statues of vassals in clerics' clothes. The palace, symbol of the Ducal then royal power, illustrates the medieval architectural evolution, from the Romanesque to the flamboyant Gothic, and its uninterrupted judicial role until the contemporary era.

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