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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de l'Ebaupinaye, also known as Ebaupinay, is a former feudal castle located in Breuil-sous-Argenton, in the commune of Argentonnay (Deux-Sèvres). Built in the 15th century by the Lord of Vendel, it has a late Gothic architecture marked by five elegant towers and a square house surrounded by moat still filled with water. Its history is linked to local legends, such as that of a fire in 1794, attributed to the column of Grignon, but this thesis is contested by experts, including Stéphane Berhault, who rather evoke a progressive dismantling to recover the materials.

Contrary to the legend of the fire, traces of inner coatings on the top floor suggest a methodical destruction: frames and floors were removed for reuse in nearby buildings. Ranked a historic monument in 1898, the castle has been owned by the Corbière family since the 19th century. In 2019, a crowdfunding campaign (Dartagnans) tried to save him, but his resale in 2024 for less than €650,000 generated controversy, hurting 11,000 contributors having paid €1.2 million.

Purchased in February 2025 by a couple, the castle begins a new life with concrete projects: a brewery already operational in the courtyard, gîtes and a reception room planned for 2026. Its architecture, with its mâchicoulis, triangular skylights and guard towers, makes it a rare testimony to the late medieval heritage in New Aquitaine. The moats, still in water on the north and east side, as well as the communes once sheltered in the courtyard, recall its defensive and seigneurial role.

The site, open to the public through these new activities, seeks to reconcile preservation and modernity. The old interior coatings, visible on the top floor, and the disassembled gate of the court testify to the transformations that have taken place over the centuries. Despite recent controversies, the castle remains a symbol of the local heritage, between feudal memory and tourism conversion.

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