Château de Vaujours

The Château de Vaujours is a ruined castle from the 12th and 15th centuries, located in the commune of Château-la-Vallière. 

Hugues I d'Alluye, living in 978, is the earliest known lord of chateau. The construction of the castle can be attributed to Hugues VI d'Alluye or to Rotron of Montfort, around 1250.

During the Hundred Years War, the fortress was never taken by the English. A major restoration was undertaken in the 15th century. Jean V de Bueil altered the defences such that they became impregnable. He died there in 1477. Louis XI stayed there during his visits to Anjou.

Under the Ancien Régime, the castle was bought by Louis XIV in 1666 and given in 1667 to his former mistress, Mademoiselle Louise de la Vallière; she became Duchesse de La Vallière et de Vaujours.

In the 18th century, Louise de la Vallière bequeathed it to the Davot family, who occupied the castle for a long period. The castle was abandoned during the French Revolution. In 1815, it was sold to Thomas Stanhope-Holland, who used it as a quarry. The site and castle are private property but offer guided-tours to the public.

Architecture

The castle, of typical military architecture, stands on a mound in the middle of a lake whose waters feed the moats which surround it. It is formed of two fortresses: a bailey to the west and the castle to the east.

The entry to the double enceinte is defended by two cylindrical towers and a flying bridge, flanked to the north by a bastion. A drawbridge and a postern flanked by a cylindrical tower to the north provide access to the courtyard. The residence is to the south, the ruins of the chapel to the north. To the east, the towers give access to a covered chemin de ronde and to the south the bastion connected to the fortress and a further building.

Inside the fortress the keep still exists, as does the lower courtyard. The enceinte includes several towers, some of which have rustication. The moats are drained and overgrown. The ruins have been cleared of vegetation and are surrounded by lawns and hedges.

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Le Vieux Château 521, Château-la-Vallière, France

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Late Capetians (France)