Château de Mehun-sur-Yèvre

Mehun-sur-Yèvre, France

The existence of a fortification at the site of Mehun-sur-Yèvre dates from antiquity. The major remains are of the early 13th century and the later 14th century. The present standing ruins date from a castle founded under the Courtenays after 1209. This fortress was transformed into a princely residence by John, Duke of Berry in 1367. Largely ruined in the 18th century the castle represented an excellent example of late Gothic architecture and early Renaissance architecture. Charles VII of France, died in the castle on July 22, 1461.

The castle is built on a trapezoid plan, and originally had a tall cylindrical tower at each corner and a rectangular tower in the middle of one of the long sides. An entrance was formed in the wall between two of the towers. One tower (12m diameter) was much larger than the others (8m) and served as the keep. The keep and the west tower still stand to their full height, each capped with intricate defensive machicolations. Manuscript illustrations indicate that the castle also had a large chapel above the principal entrance.

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Address

Place du Gén Leclerc 2, Mehun-sur-Yèvre, France
See all sites in Mehun-sur-Yèvre

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Ruins in France
Historical period: Late Capetians (France)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


St. Aignan's Church (7,7 km)


Bourges Cathedral (15,4 km)
Jacques Coeur Palace (14,9 km)
The Berry Museum (14,8 km)
The Museum of Decorative Arts (15,2 km)
Musée Estéve (15 km)
Abbaye de Noirlac (47,9 km)
Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil (58,5 km)
Château de Meillant (45,5 km)
White Tower (27,7 km)

User Reviews

Jojo Lion (3 years ago)
Je ne peux pas noter plus parce que je n'ai pas eu l'occasion de voir l'intérieur mais on peut passer un agréable moment en famille ou en couple au alentours. Très belle vue.
Raul Santiago Almunia (3 years ago)
Es uno de los castillos más reconocibles de Francia, debido a su estado de conservación. Su silueta es de lo más reconocible. A pesar de que solo conserva intacta 1 torre completa muy alta, se puede subir a ella dentro del horario establecido. Es de muy fácil acceso por encontrarse en la misma población.
magalie4342 (3 years ago)
Carnaval vénitien au parc du château très beau
Haydée Pieres-Fossel (4 years ago)
Lieu d histoire ; le château se visite en compagnie d une guide fort intéressante, connaissant son sujet a fond et en plus fort sympathique. Bravo pour toutes les explications. A côté le musée de la porcelaine, visite a ne pas manquer !
Arjun B Krishnan (4 years ago)
Old partially destroyed château with a large park and water around it
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Beckov Castle

The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.

The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.

The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.

The history of the castle is the subject of different legends. One of them narrates the origin of the name of castle derived from that of jester Becko for whom the Duke Stibor had the castle built.

Another legend has it that the lord of the castle had his servant thrown down from the rock because he protected his child from the lords favourite dog. Before his death, the servant pronounced a curse saying that they would meet in a year and days time, and indeed precisely after that time the lord was bitten by a snake and fell down to the same abyss.

The well-conserved ruins of the castle, now the National Cultural Monument, are frequently visited by tourists, above all in July when the castle festival takes place. The former Ambro curia situated below the castle now shelters the exhibition of the local history.

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