Vendôme Castle
The ruins of the castle Vendôme on sale in the French town of Vendôme in the Loir-et-Cher of the Region Center-Val de Loire . It has been under monument protection as Monument historique since 1840 .
history
The city of Vendôme and its castle were often fought over. In the 12th century, the Vendômois became the site of the power struggle between the Plantagenet family and the French crown. In 1188, King Philip II of France took the castle of Vendôme. However, a little later Richard the Lionheart conquered it back. In 1194 Philip occupied the city again and again besieged the castle. Finally, the two opponents met on July 3 of the year northeast of Vendôme in the Battle of Fréteval , in which Richard the Lionheart was able to defeat the French.
In 1515 Vendôme was raised to a duchy by King Francis I in favor of Charles' de Bourbon and given the dignity of a peer . In 1562 Charles' grandson Henry, who later became King Henry IV , became Duke of Vendôme. As a Protestant in a predominantly Catholic duchy, he had to watch the city draw closer and closer to the Catholic League . Henry was therefore forced in 1589, now as king and liege lord, to bring Vendôme under his rule by force of arms, with several castles, including those of Vendôme and Lavardin , being destroyed.
In 1598, Henry IV made his son César Duke of Vendôme. The schemer often stayed on the fiefdom . He had the access ramp built, the “Porte de Beauce” south gate opened and an additional building erected on the east side. The fortress building became a palace for encounters and celebrations. After the death of César de Bourbon in 1665, the complex remained uninhabited, and the French Revolution had a disastrous effect on the buildings.
Castle complex
The ruins of the hilltop castle are located on a hill on the southern edge of the city. As a remnant of the castle consisting of an earth wall, there are still a wall and several round towers with a machicolation wreath from the 13th and 14th centuries. There is also a massive tower called Tour de Poitiers on the east side, which was rebuilt in the 15th century.
The “Porte de Beauce” from the early 17th century leads to a park that has been laid out within the surrounding wall and includes the remains of the castle. In addition, the foundation walls of the 11th century collegiate church of Saint-Georges , founded by Agnes of Burgundy, are still in place. The church served as the burial place of the Lords of Vendôme. The parents of Henry IV, Antoine de Bourbon and Jeanne d'Albret , also found their final resting place here.
From the "Promenade de la Montagne", the terraces on the ridge, you have a beautiful view of the city and the Loir Valley .
literature
- Wilfried Hansmann : The Loire Valley. Castles, churches and cities in the «Garden of France» . 2nd Edition. DuMont, Cologne 2000, ISBN 3-7701-3555-5 , p. 251 ( online ).
- Castles and cities of the Loire . Valoire-Estel, Florence 2006, ISBN 88-476-1863-0 , p. 108.
- Castles on the Loire . The green travel guide. Michelin Reise-Verlag, Landau-Mörlheim 1997, ISBN 2-06-711591-X , p. 318.
Web links
Individual evidence
Coordinates: 47 ° 47 '21.3 " N , 1 ° 3' 57.1" E