Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château du Bois de Sanzay, located in Saint-Martin-de-Sanzay in the Deux-Sèvres, is a building whose origins date back to at least the 15th century. The land was acquired in 1487 by François de Beaumont, knight and seigneur of the Bois de Sanzay, from religious of the Abbey of Saint-Laon de Thouars. The central building, dating from the same period, has Gothic architectural features, such as monumental chimneys and a scauguette. The ensemble is completed by a chapel, cellars, a dovecote, and a French garden.

The castle has experienced several destructions and reconstructions over the centuries. Mentioned in 810, it was twice destroyed by the English in the 12th and 14th centuries and rebuilt in the 15th century. In 1793 he suffered a fire and his property was confiscated. The current architecture combines elements from the 15th, 17th and 19th centuries, with local materials such as pink-red silica stone and blue grey granite. The irregular almond plan and the water moat surrounding the building reflect its historical evolution.

The castle has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1985, including its gates and its escape (pigeon). It is surrounded by a pond and a wall, and its official address is linked to the commune of Saint-Martin-de-Sanzay, in the Deux-Sèvres department. Available sources, such as Wikipedia and Monumentum, highlight its heritage importance in the New Aquitaine region, between Thouars and Saumur.

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