Château de Saint-Loup

The site of Saint-Loup is placed at a strategic position where Thouet and Cébron rivers meet. From the early days it was surrounded by military  constructions. The first document of castle dates from the 12th century.

The keep, built in the Middle Ages, is the oldest part of existing castle. The Black Prince imprisoned in the famous Keep the French King John the Good after the battle of Poitiers in 1356. The entrance of the square tower was then protected by a portcullis. Today the keep and adjacent buildings have been converted into an amazing guest house with five bedrooms, sitting room & dining room.

Château de Saint-Loup was rebuilt in Renaissance style during the 16th century by Gouffier family.  The present Château (1609-1626) was built by Claude and Louis: plan in the shape of an H in the honor of King Henry the IV th with wings disposed as separate entities and independent vertical roofs. The frescoes were painted in false brick. A campanile tops the central Pavillon. All these elements confer to the Château the architural  style which existed at the beginning of classicism which is called the Louis XIII style.

From then on the domain is adorned by  sumptuous gardens designed and built by the most prominent gardeners of their time. A document describes a meeting in 1631 between the Gardener of the Gouffier family Jamin with those of the Cardinal de Richelieu and Duke de la Trémoille.

In 1767 the Château is sold to Jean Haran de Borda, fermier général, who bequeaths it in 1772 to his nephew  Jean d’Abbadie, an important magistrate. The Château remained the property of the d’Abbadie family until 1894.

References:

• chateaudesaint-loup.com

Address

Rue Jacques de Boyer 1, Saint-Loup-Lamairé, France

Details

Founded: 17th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in France