Château d'Oriou

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

This village had strategic importance in the Middle Ages and the 16th century, notably because of its bridges. Situated away from the village, in a bend of the Sèvre, the domain of Oriou is enclosed by walls. Various outbuildings have been added to the rectangular main dwelling, which has a tower attached to its eastern façade. It is surrounded by dry moats crossed by two bridges leading to the entrance gates. Two corner turrets on moulded consoles, embellish the west elevation, accentuating its defensive aspect. The openings were altered in the 19th century. The round tower at the rear houses the spiral staircase and has retained its machicolations on consoles. The ashlar parapet is topped by a slate pepper pot. The interior of the dwelling has been heavily altered by its successive inhabitants. To the north of the dwelling, a large round tower is attached to the outbuildings. Its ground floor is covered with a flat vault in rubble stone. Each corner of the domain was defended by round towers still visible on the 19th-century cadastre. Despite its repairs of the 19th century, the dwelling has retained its aspect of a small rural manor house of the late 16th century - early 17th.