Niort, France
12th century
Plaine-et-Vallées, France
15th century
Airvault, France
11th century
Saint-André-sur-Sèvre, France
c. 1370
Bressuire, France
12th century
Parthenay, France
13th century
Échiré, France
13th century
Saint-Loup-Lamairé, France
17th century
Cherveux, France
12th century
Chef-Boutonne, France
1514
Thouars, France
1638
Argentonnay, France
14th century
Amailloux, France
14th century
Saint-Martin-de-Sanzay, France
15th century
Échiré, France
16th century
Maisontiers, France
15th century
Glénay, France
12th century
Beaulieu-Sous-Parthenay, France
14th century
Château de Niort is a medieval castle in the French town of Niort. It consists of two square towers, linked by a 15th-century building and dominates the Sèvre Niortaise valley.
The two donjons are the only remaining part of the castle. The castle was started by Henry II Plantagenet in the 12th century and completed by Richard the Lionheart. It was defended by a rectangular curtain wall and was damaged during the Wars of Religion. In the 18th century, the castle served as a prison.
The present keeps were the central point of a massive fortress. The southern keep is 28m tall, reinforced with turrets. The northern tower is slightly shorter at 23m. Both are flanked with circular turrets at the corners as well as semicircular buttresses. Each of the towers has a spiral staircase serving the upper floors. The Romanesque architecture is of a high quality with the dressed stones closely jointed.