Cognac castle

Several times rebuilt, the castle of Cognac , also called castle of the Valois or castle , is a monument of Cognac (Charente) existing since the 10th century.

History

The castle of Cognac exists since Hélie de Villebois, first lord of Cognac made build a Castrum towards 950. About the year 1000, Itier and Arnaud de Villebois are installed on the future Cognac site and founded their dynasty there. This construction is known to us by a Charte of 1030 and documents concerning the conventual church Saint Leger and buildings which to him contiguous, are built starting from 1031 by the Bénédictins which install on the heights their priory and their church (the church Saint Leger). A small borough is formed then around Castrum and of the priory. Of this castrum nothing remains.

Towards 1200, the castle is rebuilt out of stone, on the same site of left bank of the river, vis-a-vis the quays and a first fortification rings the borough in becoming. After Taillefert, the seigniory of Cognac, dowry of Amélie Taillefert, passes by marriage to the son of Richard Lion-hearted and thus under the domination of the house of England. It is in Cognac that Richard Lion-hearted Marie Amélie de Cognac with her son Philippe de Falcombridge, who sells the Cognac seigniory with Jean without Ground. Its widow remarie with Hugues X of Lusignan, keeping Cognac in spite of the threats, of which that of excommunication by the pope Honorius III.

Between 1366 and 1370, the Cognac castle was, with the Château of Angouleme, the main home of Edouard, prince d' Aquitaine and of Wales, known as the “black Prince” (wire of the king d' Angleterre Edouard III).

At the 13th century Lusignans carry out transformations, and to the 14th century, Philippe Beautiful the attaches the Cognac seigniory to the crown of France. But during the War One hundred Year old, it changes suzerain to the liking of the combat and the treaties. The return after 33 years of captivity in England of Jean de Valois, known as “the good count Jean”, marks the end of long years of disorders and the return of prosperity. Jean de Valois finds an abandoned castle and in very bad condition. The rebuilding begins in 1450.

His/her son Charles de Valois and his wife Louise of Savoy made Cognac a intellectual and artistic center. Their daughter future the Marguerite de Navarre and their son the future François Ier did not forget Cognac, where it is born in 1494: about 1517, it makes build the long frontage vis-a-vis the quays.

For lack of maintenance, the castle is dilapidated during the end of the 17th century and the 18th century. Its owner, the count d' Artois and future Charles X, sells even some buildings. Then the castle is sold like Bien national for the demolition, but in 1795 it is repurchased by brandy traders, Sirs Otard and Dupuy, to install there wine storehouse S. During the 19th century certain installations caused the destruction of vestiges of the castle but the company Otard also did very important work of conservation and restoration.

The castle such as it is visible and worth visiting currently goes back to constructions of Valois.

Structure

Coming from the Holy district Jacques, the medieval bridge which was demolished in 1855 spanned the Charente vis-a-vis the two turns with curtain and trefoil machicolations built of 1499 to 1500 to replace square towers; it is practically all that there remains strengthened enclosure of the city.

The castle presents an imposing frontage on the left doors with the quays to its feet. This very sober frontage, built about 1517 and raised about 1852, is brightened by a large named window " balcony of the roi" , decorated carved medallions (with in particular the profile of) and rests on two salamander S which frames a Blason. The tower of the count Jean is, once the doors of the city passed, located on the left. It dates from the 13th century, has as from the 15th century an interior well with curbstones on all the floors; with the first stages the two rooms have chimneys and windows with menaux. It remains there a rare system of medieval drying ovens.

The " home of the gouverneur" present a beautiful Gothic door and a turret with spiral staircase.

The " room of the casque" its name must with the ornamentation of the monumental chimney: under a empanaché helmet, the blazon lying of Valois-Angouleme and three flowers of lily. Part of its northern wall is 12th century. In its wall east are drowned vestiges of the 13th century: Gothic blind arcades, capitals decorated with Palmette S, as well as posts and capitals only vestiges of the vault of the castle. A small arched part makes him continuation by a door decorated with the weapons comtales on the right of the chimney.

In the cellars, two arched rooms, a small corridor and a paved ground are the only vestiges of the 12th century.

References

Cognac , Pauline Reverchon (preserving of the museum), 1973, with 210 specimens.
castles in Poitou-Charentes, Frederic Chasseboeuf, inheritances and media, ISBN2-910137-91-0

See too

Cognac

External documentation

August 1st