Along the Castle Roads of Poitou
Fortresses, gardens, mysteries and residences to discover around La Roche-Posay. Simply travelling along the roads of Poitou is enough to make a medieval tower, the remains of a fortress or the elegant façade of a Renaissance residence appear around the next bend. Some of these buildings open their doors wide. Others reveal themselves only during a guided tour, a heritage event or a walk around their walls. Yet all of them tell a story: that of the women and men who built, inhabited and transformed them — and sometimes saved them from oblivion.
A castle is not merely a monument. It is also the memory of a region and of those who choose to preserve it today.
Chauvigny
The town of five castles
Perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Vienne, the medieval town of Chauvigny has an exceptional distinction: five castles, or their remains, stand together in its upper town. The baronial castle, also known as the Bishops’ Castle, the Château d’Harcourt, the Gouzon keep, the Château de Montléon and the Tour de Flins once formed a remarkably dense defensive complex. They cannot all be visited in the same way, but a walk through the upper town reveals several of their remains. The Gouzon keep now houses a museum, while the ruins of the Bishops’ Castle host the Géants du Ciel. Eagles, falcons, owls and other birds fly freely within the spectacular setting of the former fortress. Discover the medieval town of Chauvigny → Plan a visit to the Géants du Ciel →
Château de Monthoiron
Following in Leonardo da Vinci’s footsteps
Near Châtellerault, the Château de Monthoiron has a remarkable Renaissance fortified tower, protected as a historic monument. The site does more than present its architecture: it invites visitors to step into its history through play. With Leonardo’s Treasure, children, parents and grandparents set out together in search of a treasure Leonardo da Vinci is said to have hidden at Monthoiron. Twenty riddles placed around the fortified tower gradually reveal the castle, the Renaissance and several sides of the celebrated inventor. Other activities complement the visit, including The Secret of Karmanor and a nature walk in search of small creatures made from LEGO bricks. Monthoiron is therefore far more than a simple castle visit. It is a playful and educational family adventure where everyone learns almost without noticing — often the best way to learn. Discover the activities at Château de Monthoiron →
Château de Boussay
A residence surrounded by its moat
At Boussay, in Indre-et-Loire, the castle brings together several periods of construction. A fifteenth-century machicolated tower stands beside more recent wings. Surrounded by a water-filled moat, the complex gradually lost its defensive character and became a country residence. The castle is privately owned and its interior is not open to visitors. The grounds surrounding the residence may, however, be explored freely, with due respect for the place and its inhabitants. Discover Château de Boussay →
Château de Coussay
At the dawn of the French Renaissance
The Château de Coussay was built around 1520 for Denis Briçonnet, Prior of Coussay and Bishop of Saint-Malo. Its architecture still retains something of a fortified medieval residence while already opening itself to the influence of the Italian Renaissance. Armand Jean du Plessis, the future Cardinal Richelieu, inherited the estate and stayed there regularly before being elevated to the cardinalate. The castle remains privately owned. It is not permanently open, but tours of its exterior and gardens, and occasionally parts of the residence, are organised on special dates. Consult information from Château de Coussay →
Château du Rivau
A castle in conversation with its own time
Le Rivau has done more than preserve its walls. Around its medieval fortress and former royal stables, gardens have been created drawing inspiration from tales, legends and the imagination. Contemporary artworks stand among the flowers, trees and landscaped installations. The castle also hosts exhibitions, workshops, events and family activities. Le Rivau has chosen to bring its history to life rather than hold it at a distance: past centuries meet contemporary creativity with great freedom and, sometimes, a touch of humour. Plan a visit to Château du Rivau →
Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers
A romantic ruin saved collectively
Destroyed by fire in 1932, the Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers became one of the region’s most distinctive romantic ruins. Without its roof, vegetation entered its walls and gradually mingled with the architecture. What might have heralded its disappearance helped create an almost unreal place. In 2017, a major crowdfunding campaign launched its collective purchase. Tens of thousands of people from around the world now contribute to saving it. The castle is open to the public, while work continues to make it safe, restore it and showcase its beauty. It is a thoroughly contemporary form of heritage protection: a castle no longer dependent on a single owner, but on the collective commitment of those who chose to save it. Plan a visit to La Mothe-Chandeniers →
Château de la Roche, Magné
From Flamboyant Gothic to the Renaissance
Overlooking the Belle valley, the Château de la Roche combines Flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Its chapel, built in the sixteenth century, contains stained glass installed in the nineteenth century and signed by Maréchal de Metz, one of the leading master glassmakers of his time. One of the seventeenth-century outbuildings also houses a museum devoted to the Order of Malta. The castle is mainly visited on guided tours arranged by appointment. It is therefore essential to check before travelling. Consult visiting arrangements for Château de la Roche →
Château de Purnon
Saving an eighteenth-century masterpiece
At Verrue, in northern Vienne, the Château de Purnon was built in the late eighteenth century. The residence, its outbuildings, moat, chapel and the estate’s various buildings form a remarkable ensemble, long threatened by a lack of maintenance. In 2020, the estate was bought by Felicity Selkirk and Tim Holding, an Australian couple who set out to save it from ruin. Since then, an immense programme of work has been undertaken with craftspeople, the historic-monuments authorities and various heritage partners. Purnon is not a castle open for visits every day. Its doors open for special events, particularly during European Heritage Days. Visitors then encounter less a finished residence than an immense restoration project in full activity. Follow Purnon’s restoration and opening dates →
Château de la Chapelle-Bellouin
A royal residence saved stone by stone
In the Loudun area, within the commune of La Roche-Rigault, stand the remains of the Château de la Chapelle-Bellouin. The site has medieval origins. The castle was profoundly transformed at the beginning of the Renaissance, while retaining several traces of its former defensive role. It became royal property under Francis I, before being granted to the d’Escoubleau de Sourdis family. Later, the county of La Chapelle-Bellouin entered the possessions of Cardinal Richelieu. The castle still preserves remains of fortifications, traces of a former drawbridge, a Renaissance residential wing and coffered vaults. Patient consolidation and restoration work is now attempting to preserve what can still be saved. Discover Château de la Chapelle-Bellouin →
Private residences we can only imagine
Château de Jutreau
Located at Saint-Pierre-de-Maillé, the Château de Jutreau is privately owned and not open to visitors. Its fifteenth-century north pavilion has been listed as a historic monument since 1935. For the walker, the castle therefore remains one of those silhouettes whose stonework can occasionally be glimpsed without ever crossing the threshold. Consult the official listing for Château de Jutreau →
La Merci-Dieu
Not a castle, but a former abbey
La Merci-Dieu should not be described as a castle. These are the remains of a former Cistercian abbey, founded in the twelfth century beside the Gartempe, within the territory of La Roche-Posay. Much of the complex has disappeared or is now severely deteriorated. Two altarpieces from the former abbey are, however, preserved in the Church of Notre-Dame in La Roche-Posay. La Merci-Dieu fully belongs to the area’s history, but in a different register: monastic life, religious art and the institutions that once shaped these valleys. Discover the historic heritage of La Roche-Posay →
An unexpected cousin
The paintings of Saint-Savin Abbey
At Angles-sur-l’Anglin, the Roc-aux-Sorciers preserves a prehistoric frieze carved into stone. At Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, painting takes over. The abbey church contains one of Europe’s most important surviving groups of Romanesque murals. Painted in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, they cover the great vault of the nave in particular. Scenes from Genesis and Exodus unfold above visitors like an immense painted book. The abbey church has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Guided tours and family activities now offer ways to discover its paintings and history. Plan a visit to Saint-Savin Abbey →
Going further
This feature could have a sequel. One castle each season, perhaps. A restored residence, a ruin, a garden or a private building whose story deserves to be told. We might also create two complementary series: Places we can visit, to plan real discoveries along the roads of Poitou; Places we can only glimpse, devoted to private residences, remains and silhouettes seen behind the trees. The Kingdom will not run out of old stone and stories. And you, which castle would you like to discover with the Knights of Astrée? Opening times, prices, activities and visiting arrangements may change. Before travelling, please consult the official website of the site concerned.