A medieval castle with its keep, ramparts and 2 hectares of terraced grounds,
overlooking a village and the Tardoire valley, 35 minutes south-west of Limoges
overlooking a village and the Tardoire valley, 35 minutes south-west of Limoges
Limoges,
HAUTE-VIENNE
limousin
87000
FR
Location
The citadel lies at the crossroads of ancient trade routes, a place where influences from the Limousin, Périgord and Charente Limousine regions combine in terms of hydrography, climate, landscape and architecture. This particular location at the junction of different regions has resulted in a development based on trading activities such as medieval fairs, and a history marked by the siege of fortresses. Highlight of the Richard Lionheart Route, the castle was built on a rocky outcrop which once provided an efficient defensive position and still dominates the village and the valleys of the Tardoire. Nearby, numerous markets and traditional festivals celebrate chestnuts, apples and mushrooms in summer and winter alike. By road, Paris is 3 hours 40 minutes from the property, Bordeaux 2 hours 30 minutes, Périgueux 1 hour and Limoges and its international airport 35 minutes.
Description
A bird's eye view of the ancient ramparts, in the shape of a polygon, reveals the double enclosure and the monumental dimensions of the impressive castle built on the site of earlier strongholds towards the middle of the 11th century. A number of medieval features have survived to the present day, in particular the corner tower of the main building and the keep in the centre of the courtyard, which rises to a height of 25 m and can be sighted from a distance of several kilometres. In the 17th century, a manor house was added as an extension to the medieval dwelling, probably on its former foundations, providing the estate with a pleasant residence at a human scale.
Outbuildings and the remains of a castle chapel, set in terraced grounds and enclosed by circular ramparts, complete the impressive complex of buildings standing over the surrounding area.
The entire keep and the corner tower are classified as national historical monuments. The facades and roofs of the medieval dwelling adjoining the tower, as well as those of the 17th-century building, are also listed. The sober facades of the various buildings are mostly of rough-hewn stone, those of the 17th-century dwelling of rendered stone, with straight or arched openings, evenly spaced or not, featuring small-paned glass doors, windows and transoms. Shutters protect all the openings, those of the most recent building are painted white. The roofs, with two or four pitches, are of flat or monk-and-nun tiles.
Outbuildings and the remains of a castle chapel, set in terraced grounds and enclosed by circular ramparts, complete the impressive complex of buildings standing over the surrounding area.
The entire keep and the corner tower are classified as national historical monuments. The facades and roofs of the medieval dwelling adjoining the tower, as well as those of the 17th-century building, are also listed. The sober facades of the various buildings are mostly of rough-hewn stone, those of the 17th-century dwelling of rendered stone, with straight or arched openings, evenly spaced or not, featuring small-paned glass doors, windows and transoms. Shutters protect all the openings, those of the most recent building are painted white. The roofs, with two or four pitches, are of flat or monk-and-nun tiles.
The medieval dwelling
Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, the main section contains four rooms with solid walls reaching a thickness of up to 2.30 m, topped by very high ceilings that were gradually lowered by successive restorations over the years. Access is via the central courtyard or below via the downstairs rooms. The original roof collapsed over time, with tiles broken only on the east side. It was replaced by a roof structure clad with flat and monk-and-nun tiles featuring a distressed finish.
The ground floor
The guard room, which was also used for celebrations and as a courtroom, is the most emblematic room in the castle: apart from its monumental size, it has a singular history, since the archives mention the death of Richard Lionheart at the foot of its fireplace on 6 April 1199. The ceiling, now a concrete slab, was formerly vaulted and supported by granite columns. The strikingly large openings still feature Gothic windows with trefoil lancets. Alongside the vast hall, which has been converted into a museum of medieval art, a vaulted brick chapel with quarry tile floor protects religious furniture and items that are destined to remain on the premises.
The basement
The two basement rooms, now darkened by filled-in moats, were probably originally used as a living room and kitchen, as evidenced by the presence of a granite fireplace with a vaulted arch. A pointed-arch doorway reveals the remains of an ancient staircase. One of the rooms opens onto the outdoors via a large door level with the old moat.
The tower
Formerly a defensive structure, located at the western corner of the castle, it is round on the outside and octagonal on the inside. Illuminated by a single arrowslit window, its stone vault rises more than 7 m above the granite floor. A narrow stone spiral staircase ends before the former upper level, which has now been replaced by a terrace overlooking the surrounding undulating landscape.
The upstairs
Above the guard room, the walls of the medieval fortress are protected by a triangulated timber frame with low tie beams resting, with the exception of the gable, on the remains of the medieval walls. The impressive volumes created by this wooden structure, clad with flat and monk-and-nun tiles, now form a huge hall with a reinforced concrete floor, lit on either side by original low-set openings.
The keep
With its only entrance door 7 m above ground level, access to the high tower, which has lost its topmost section, is via a secure metal staircase, followed by a stone staircase set into the 3 m thick wall. The ground floor is divided into two rectangular rooms, which originally formed a single hall, leading to the polygonal room in the tower. The upper floors were demolished in 1861 and converted into terraces. Finally, there is a vast vaulted space with a rubble masonry dome in the basement.
The 17th century manor house
This comprises a ground floor, an upper storey and an attic used for storage. It has a flat tile roof and fairly simple, lime-plastered rubble masonry facades, with dressed stone window surrounds and corner quoins. On the ground floor, the small-paned glass doors, which are slightly arched on the west facade and straight on the east facade - like the windows on both levels - provide access to the courtyard on the eastern side. On the other side, a flight of approach stairs leads from the central French window down to the lawned terrace bordered by low walls, affording a view over the surrounding countryside.
The ground floor
A hallway is accessed from the courtyard at the south-east end of the building. It has a terracotta-tiled floor and exposed granite walls. A remarkable straight stone and wood staircase leads to the upper levels. Its vase-shaped balusters form a banister reminiscent of the Italian Renaissance. From the hallway, a long corridor leads to two sitting rooms and a dining room featuring a glass-fronted bookcase covering an entire wall. The French ceiling with wooden coffering adds warmth and privacy to this privileged space. The fitted kitchen, with its stone floor and beamed ceiling, is accessed from the dining room. Working wood and brick or stone fireplaces, full-height panelling and oak flooring contribute to the decorative appeal and comfort of each room.
The upstairs
Accessed via the staircase located in the hallway, it comprises a large landing, a room used as a storeroom and four bedrooms with en-suite shower room or bathroom. Almost all of them have beamed ceilings. They are served by a long corridor overlooking the courtyard and the medieval keep. The walls, floors, ceilings and fireplaces in each room feature a harmonious blend of rough and sculpted stone and wood, brick, lime and sisal. All the openings face the setting sun.
The attic
The oak roof frame, built in the shape of an apse, slopes very steeply along the entire length of the building, allowing rainwater to run down more easily. Glass wool insulation covers the entire floor area of the attic.
The remains of the chapel
Dating back to the 11th century, this castle chapel was later converted into a parish church. All that remains today are the vestiges showing the original layout, varying in height depending on the location. It is here, beneath his tomb effigy, that Richard Lionheart's entrails rest.
The terraced grounds above the ramparts
The solid walls of the first perimeter enclosure are still in place, supporting a number of terraces that have been transformed into landscaped gardens, laid to lawn and studded with trees, offering views of both the village and the surrounding countryside. On one of the terraces, there is a refreshment bar where visitors can take a break in the shade of a centuries-old oak tree. Coniferous and deciduous trees as well as shrubs are arranged in groves, hedges or stand alone, depending on the location.
The outbuildings
There are two buildings dating from the 19th century, one of which houses a studio flat comprising an office, a kitchen and a shower room with toilet, and the other a second-hand goods area as well as the reception and ticket office for visitors to the castle. This second outbuilding, which is partially heated, has also been fitted with a fully equipped kitchen.
Our opinion
A unique site, representing a genuine fragment of France's history, set in gently sloping terraced grounds commanding a view over the village and surrounding valleys. Although the medieval fortresses built in our country in the 11th century were largely modified in the subsequent centuries and rarely withstood war or destruction, this one is a fine example of a feudal building on a hill that has been largely preserved. The history of the castle has earned it a worldwide reputation: Richard Lionheart, son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, died here, where his entrails lie, from a crossbow wound on 6 April 1199. Today, the grounds and vast rooms of the dwelling are open to the public. This unique castle complex, its grounds and outbuildings provide an exceptional opportunity to bring history and heritage back to life and to envisage a range of hospitality, residential or event-related uses.
Reference 135759
| Land registry surface area | 2 ha 27 a 73 ca |
| Main building surface area | 350 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 5 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 634 m2 |
| including refurbished area | 500 m2 |
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NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
