Culan Castle
The castle Culan is located in the French commune of Culan in the extreme south of the department Cher in the region Center-Val de Loire . The medieval fortification stands on a rocky promontory above the valley of the Arnon .
history
The second fortress , built at the beginning of the 12th century as a successor to a wooden structure, was besieged and destroyed in 1188 by King Philippe Auguste in the war against the English King Henri II Plantagenêt . The current building with Renaissance extensions dates back to the 13th century and was expanded and changed until the 15th century.
In 1582, the Barons of Culan were forced to sell the castle , and in 1600 the property came into the possession of the Duke of Sully (1599–1621). Later Louis II de Bourbon, prince de Condé , was the owner. During the events related to the Fronde , Jules Mazarin , Condé's adversary, had the ramparts removed from the castle. From the end of the 17th century, the property belonged to the La Tour d'Auvergne family and the Prince of Croÿ , the last Baron of Culan. During the French Revolution the lands of the castle were divided among several families and the complex was sold as national property.
Several famous guests stopped here over the years: Jeanne d'Arc , Louis XI. , Sully , Madame de Sévigné , the writer George Sand and the composer Frédéric Chopin .
architecture
The facade of Culan Castle is 80 meters long and is divided by three mighty round towers , the roof cladding is unique in France. In the stately salons there are some beautiful chimneys from the 15th century. At the foot of the castle there is a herb garden and a rose garden.
Parts of the current buildings have been classified as Monument historique since 1956 and were restored between 1950 and 1980 . The facility is open to visitors. Near the castle there are some medieval houses in the steep streets as well as the parish church Nôtre-Dame, which is dedicated to Saint Vincent.
literature
- Dominique Auzias, Jean-Paul Labourdette: Châteaux de la Loire . Petit Futé, 2009, ISBN 978-2-7469-2501-4 , p. 112.
- Josyane and Alain Cassaigne: 365 Chateaux de France . Aubanel, Geneva 2007, ISBN 978-2-7006-0517-4 , p. 206.
- Michelin - The Green Guide. Limousin, Berry . 1st edition. Michelin, Paris 2006, ISBN 2-06-711746-7 , pp. 237-238.
Web links
- Castle website (English, French)
- Photos from Base Mémoire: Part 1 and Part 2
- Film about the castle (French)
Individual evidence
- ^ Culan Castle in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French), accessed on September 21, 2009.
Coordinates: 46 ° 32 '46.7 " N , 2 ° 21' 7.3" E