Château

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

Castle built on a rocky spur which overlooks the borough. Palluau belonged to Berry for spiritual and financial matters; to Touraine as regards temporal government and justice. The castle came under the count of Anjou and Touraine from the 11th century onwards, who became king of England in the following century. In 1188, Philippe Auguste stormed the castle and defeated the English who occupied it. Ruined at the end of the 12th century, the castle suffered in 1560 and 1582 from the Wars of Religion. In March 1796, a local revolt known as the "Vendée of Palluau" caused it damage. The primitive castle must have occupied a rectangular space of which three sides were surrounded by ditches which partly survive. From buildings of the 12th and 13th centuries, there remain the base of the walls which serve as foundation for the present castle, and the west corner tower which would be, according to legend, the one on which Philippe Auguste planted the banner of France. The present buildings date from the 15th century or beginning of the 16th, and occupy the south-east and south-west sides. At the east corner, a large round tower, remnant of the old fortress, is connected to the main dwelling. On the ground floor of the East building is the chapel decorated with wall paintings which recount the history of the Virgin. Wall paintings have also been preserved in one of the rooms of the large tower.