Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Ligondès, also known as the castle of Ligondix, is located in the commune of Chambonchard, in the department of Creuse (region Nouvelle-Aquitaine), on the border with Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Built in the 13th century, it belonged to the seigneury of Ligondeix, dependent on the castle of Evaux and reporting to the Dukes of Bourbon. The Ligondes family, originally from Italy and settled in France around 1248, made it its main residence. Its architecture reflects this medieval period, with a central house body and a quadrangular crowned dungeon, typical of the fortifications of the period.

During the French Revolution, the Marquis Georges du Ligondes emigrated, leading to the sale of the castle in the 19th century. The building preserves traces of its defensive functions, such as a gunboat, a 15th century steeple, and a vaulted cellar illuminated by a murderer. The dungeon, built around 1443, is distinguished by its mâchicoulis gallery and a spiral staircase leading to an old vaulted chapel on the third floor. The medieval access, protected by a drawbridge, was designed to withstand the assaults, with an elevated entrance on the first floor.

Partially classified as historical monuments in 1962 (elevations and roofs), the castle illustrates the architectural evolution of fortresses between the 13th and 15th centuries, mixing original defensive elements and subsequent adaptations. Its history is linked to the local nobility, especially the Dukes of Bourbon, and to the Ligondes family, whose older branch lived there for centuries. The downed turret and traces of restorations testify to the transformations that the building has undergone over the years.

External links