I like to tell you again about my road warrior trails in my belle France. Again, found me an older picture of something wonderful, glad I did find it and will need to show it to the world, I like to do justice to the place and give you an introduction, Therefore, here is my take on the château de La Rochefoucauld !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The château de La Rochefoucauld is located in La Rochefoucauld in Charente dept 16 of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, This is a Renaissance castle largely built around 1520 at the site of a 11C feudal fortress of which the towers have been preserved since its first construction, it belongs to the family de la Rochefoucauld. Access to the castle is on the side of the plateau, through a pavilion dating from the early 17C. The castle is preceded by a vast flowerbed on which the facade of the main body is developed, dating from the 16C the two main lines of the 16-18C are on the stages and in the roof presents windows with a very worked pediment forming stone lace. There is a proliferation of sculptures, elegant style of the first Renaissance period.
The first fortified château de La Rochefoucauld was built around 1026 on a rock overlooking the Tardoire river, A late in a document from the Abbey of Saint-Cybard d’Angoulême dated 1026, Foucauld is described as a very noble lord of the castle called La Roche. It is the oldest known mention of the old feudal castle which no longer exists. The dungeon, in its initial state, includes two levels: a first blind level of approximately 10 m high whose only access is a hatch in the vault; a second level, 5.40 m in height, serving as a housing with an east side window and a door on the north side, without fireplace at the time of construction. A text of 1109 reports a residential castle against the dungeon, probably made of wood, in which the Lord and his family lived.
In 1299, King Philippe le Bel raise the lordship of La Rochefoucauld in barony. In 1453, Jean de la Rochefoucauld built the three corner towers and raised the dungeon. On July 17, King Charles VII was at the château de La Rochefoucauld, at his advisor and chambellan told him at ten o’clock in the evening the victory of his troops over those of the constable John Talbot, commanding the English troops, at the Battle of Castillon. This victory ended the Hundred Years War. In 1494, François I of La Rochefoucauld was the godfather of the son of the count of Angoulême and Louise de Savoie. This child, to whom he gave his first name, is the future king of France, François Ier. In 1515, his godson erected in his favor the barony of La Rochefoucauld as a county, incorporating the barony of Marthon.
François II de la Rochefoucauld married to Anne de Polignac, has most of the castle built: two main body, superimposed galleries, the chapel and a large staircase in a spiral case unique in France, the galleries are superimposed on three floors , the castle Renaissance retains the elements of the previous castle in particular the dungeon and the towers The layout is studied so that the dungeon remains clearly visible from the outside of the castle and the inside of the courtyard. In 1533, François II of La Rochefoucauld ordered his future widow to retire in the Château de Verteuil. From then on, the Château de la Rochefoucauld, uninhabited, is only used for large official receptions. In 1760, the 17C wing, which burned, was rebuilt. The castle archives were destroyed during the French revolution. In 1909, François XVII of La Rochefoucauld died prematurely. His burial is placed in the chapel whose interior has been modified: new stained glass windows, installation of a platform, a governed choir in varnished ceramic bearing, on a banner, the family motto “It’s my pleasure” and the initials of the lost child. His father, François XVI, 11th Duke, and his mother, Matti-Elizabeth Mitchell, were also buried, later, in the chapel, The castle, thus emptied, remains uninhabited for a long time. During WWII, it served as an archive deposit. Then, delivered to the occupation troops, was left in a state of advanced dilapidation, which is only worsening during the 40 years that follow. On January 28, 1960, the western part of the dungeon collapsed ,Taking advantage of the passage of Charles de Gaulle, President of the French Republic, in La Rochefoucauld on June 12, 1963, the town and the representatives of the department asked for his intervention in order to consolidate the foundations of the castle. From 1990, the castle was the subject of a major restoration under the leadership of Sonia Marie Matossian, the second wife of François, 14th Duke of La Rochefoucauld who died in La Rochefoucauld in 2011.
The official Château de La Rochefoucauld : https://www.chateau-la-rochefoucauld.com/
The local Atlantic Coast Cognac tourist office on the castle : https://www.atlantic-cognac.com/find-your-activity/chateau-de-la-rochefoucauld-5666092/
The Charente dept 16 tourist office on the castle : https://www.infiniment-charentes.com/bienvenue-au-chateau-de-la-rochefoucauld/
There you go folks, another wonderful spot in my road warrior trails of my belle France, This is architecture, history and a lot more ; one of the gems of the Charente, worth the detour , me think, Again, hope you enjoy this unique post on the château de La Rochefoucauld as I
And remember, happy travels , good health and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 