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Origin and history

The château de Clis-Dessous, located in the municipality of Clis (Indre, region Centre-Val de Loire), is a medieval fortress in ruins dating from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Built on a rocky spur overlooking the Bouzanne River, it was originally composed of a body of rectangular houses, a stair turret, a large central tower and courtings flanked by three murderous towers. An ogival door in studded oak, framed with arched turrets, marked the entrance, accessible by an oblique ramp ending in a barbacan. The ensemble also housed a chapel and a small inner courtyard closed by a wall.

The castle belonged historically to the lords of Deols, before last passing to Anne-Marie-Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier and cousin of Louis XIV. Its remains, inscribed in the historical monuments by order of 11 December 1935, are now owned by the commune. The site regularly hosts biennial summer performances and restoration courses, perpetuating its cultural and heritage role.

Defensive elements still visible, such as murderers and archeries, illustrate the military techniques of the time. The fortress, although partially in ruins, preserves traces of its original spatial organization, with a clear separation between the seigneurial areas (logis, chapel) and the defence devices (courtesy, towers, barbacan).

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