Château de la Roche

English translation

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History

The château de la Roche has an ancient origin, linked to that of Montpensier. La Roche was, in the 12th century, a simple fortified tower ensuring the surveillance of a passage and the advanced defence of the Montpensier mound. From this period is preserved the oval tower at the north end, an almost unique example in France of a keep with an oval plan, an attempt made towards the end of the 12th and the beginning of the 13th century. Rectangular keep of the 13th and 14th centuries. Erected as a fief in the 15th century, La Roche was enlarged and became a dwelling house and no longer merely a fortification. The buildings are arranged around a courtyard, their roofs being set against the enclosure. A wall-walk allowed it to be made the round. Another enclosure protected the main core and sheltered the outer ward, of which some walls and two round towers capped with crenellations and recent machicolations remain. A moat reinforced this defence. The interiors were remodelled in the 19th century. Michel de L'Hospital, Chancellor of France, figure of the Wars of Religion, was born in this castle.