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Origin and history

The castle of Nouâtre, located in front of the river Vienna in the 2nd half of the 15th century, adopts a characteristic hexagonal plan. Its enclosure, reinforced with circular towers at angles and surrounded by ditches, was accessible by an entrance châtelet with archer-canone turrets. The courtyards and towers, in beautiful limestone apparatus, house a vaulted room in a full-cindered cradle, partially filled today. These architectural elements clearly date back to the mid-15th century, reflecting a desire to emphasize defensive character.

The reconstruction of the castle is attributed to John III of Estouteville, knight of the order of Saint-Michel, who acquired the seigneury in 1450, then to his successor John of Fou, governor of Touraine. The site has similarities with the castle of Beynes (Yvelines), rebuilt by Robert VII of Estouteville, brother of John III, illustrating the same military architectural approach. The village of Nouâtre, located at a strategic crossroads between Vienna and Creuse, still preserved in the nineteenth century the traces of a castral motte, highlighting its historical importance.

Remains protected since 2022 include built and unbuilt elements, soils, and underground remains under an adjacent house. The castle, now in ruins, offers a rare testimony of the seigneurial fortifications of the late Middle Ages in Touraine. Its present state, though degraded, allows to appreciate the ingenuity of its defensive design and its integration into the river landscape.

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