Ruines du château

English translation

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History

Fortress of the house of Sancerre which had held the seigneurie since the 10th century. The castle was built during the 14th century to control the route from Bourges to Sancoins. Improvements were made during the 16th century by the Babou family who bought the estate in 1546. Important modifications were made by Jules Hardouin-Mansart (purchaser in 1699) in the early 18th century. The castle was dismantled at the Revolution and the materials subsequently sold. Originally, the walls comprised eight towers and two gateways. To open up a prospect, Mansart destroyed the curtain walls on the east side and remodelled the surroundings by creating plantations and gardens. The west and north parts of the walls remain, opening through a gateway whose arch is a reworking from the 15th century. Still visible are the pillars supporting the base of the corner turrets, assommoir holes, fragments of the portcullis in its housing, door leaves from the late 16th century. Under the pointed arch vault is found the start of the staircase leading to the upper storeys. Four towers with sloping base are preserved, bathed in the moats and having a ground floor vaulted with a squinch. The courtyard façade dates from the 15th century and presents moulded windows with ogee mouldings as well as openings from the 18th century at the extremity of the building. Most of the doors have retained their original mouldings. All the buildings are covered with French ceilings.