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Founded: 15th centuryCategory: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Valois Dynasty and Hundred Year's War (France)
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The Château de Dissay is located in the Vienne department, in the town of Dissay, France. Built in the late 15th century by Pierre d'Amboise, Bishop of Poitiers, it replaced an older structure. It served as the bishops' residence until the French Revolution in 1793. In 1434, Bishop Hugues de Combarel was authorized by King Charles VII to fortify the site with towers, moats, gates, and ramparts.
During the Third War of Religion, Admiral de Coligny seized the castle in 1569; bullet marks remain on the north tower. The towers once served as prisons, and the Abbé de Saint-Cyran was held there.
After 1850, Count Fruchard restored the castle and church, incorporating stained glass and architectural elements from a nearby collegiate church. The central section was rebuilt between 1900–1905 by architect M. Ardion.
The castle blends late Gothic and early Renaissance styles. It forms a large rectangular structure surrounded by moats, with two intact corner towers. Originally, a wooden drawbridge spanned the moat.
The entrance resembles that of Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire, where Pierre d'Amboise was raised. Inside the keep are ornate stone fireplaces and a stone staircase.
From the original chapel remain some pillars and 15th-century wall paintings, including a depiction of King David. The bishop’s tomb was destroyed during the Revolution.
The formal gardens include water parterres, vases modeled after those at Versailles, and lions from an Istrian villa. The park, inspired by or possibly designed by André Le Nôtre, features classic layouts: alleys, circular clearings, and geometric design.
A canal leads to a charming Louis XV-style pavilion once used as a music salon. A gracefully designed stone staircase also reflects Louis XV style.
The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.
The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.
Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.