Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Pernan, located in the commune of Avy in Charente-Maritime, has its origins in the sixteenth century, probably during the reign of François I. In 1520, François, Sire de Pons, surrendered to Charles de La Cour des droits seigneuriaux over the parishes of Marignac and Avy, including income and rights of justice. This transaction marked the birth of the seigneury of Pernan, then owned by the descendants of Charles de La Cour, who had the house built around 1549. The family retained the estate until 1738, when it passed by alliance to the Beaupoil de Saint-Aulaire.

In 1785, an inventory after the death of Bénigne-Elisabeth de La Cour reveals a richly decorated interior, with tapestries of Aubusson representing greenery and characters. The French Revolution led to the seizure of the castle in 1794, after the emigration of André-Alexandre de Beaupoil, the eldest son of the heiress. The estate is then sold as a national good. The house, little modified since its construction, preserves Renaissance elements, such as a spiral staircase in a polygonal tower and a second staircase serving an upper bedroom.

The castle is organized around a courtyard surrounded by outbuildings, formerly accessible by a porch-house today partially destroyed. A 1794 report mentions missing or altered elements, such as a small tower flanking the low building body, a large tower extending outbuildings, and a seigneurial dovecote. These remains bear witness to the past importance of this site, typical of the noble houses of the region under the Old Regime.

External links