Photo : Kévin Guillot / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Château de Chambonneau
The Chambonneau estate, in the Vienne, once belonged to the Abbey of Ligugé, the oldest monastic house in the West still in use. The abbey sold the estate, and a first fortified castle was built by Philip VI of Valois in the early 14th century as a defensive post at the foot of the hill, by the river. Its towers reached 17 m and its square keep 36 m. This impressive stronghold housed John II the Good after his capture by the English in September 1356. It later belonged to five noble families, including the lords of Gençay.
Under Louis XI, the curtain wall and towers on the west side were pulled down and living quarters built on either side of the gatehouse. Sold in the 16th century, the castle was rearranged with farms, a chapel and another residence. Under Napoleon it was bought by Monsieur de La Chaslerie. The two gatehouse towers were finally destroyed in 1953. The castle's massive appearance still commands respect.
