Top 4 Castles around Gardes-Le-Pontaroux

The Tower is difficult to visualize; you must stay in the castle, which offers guest rooms, to access it.

Magnificent little Charentais village, with a small church and its garden

The extraordinary history of this grandiose residence began in 1924, in the heart of a small 19th century manor (to the left of the current façade): the troubadour castel of La Mercerie was then acquired by Alphonse and Raymond Réthoré. From then on, the two brothers, dreaming of the great Versailles, devoted all their resources to enlarging and embellishing the building. The work undertaken is commensurate with the ambition that drives it. Outside, colonnades and balusters in white stone soon extend the first building. the cut stone increases the gigantism and the rigor of a facade with a perfect rhythm. Inside, nothing is too beautiful for La Mercerie, Raymond brings back from his travels furniture and paintings, chandeliers and precious woods, marbles from Italy, azulejos from Portugal etc. He returns from Italy with a painter sculptor who will carry out on the spot the most monumental decorations with the assistance of the inhabitants of the country. The treasures are piling up, but 30 years of work will not be enough to complete the colossal project. The collections are dispersed during auctions in June 1987. When the two brothers died, the castle fell into oblivion, until the mobilization of the inhabitants of the town, who decided to found an association to safeguard this unique and prestigious heritage. The Béruges room, the central living room, the Vernet living room, the vestibule, the mahogany gallery and the large Azulejos gallery, each more impressive than the last, now fully conquers the visitor eager for cultural discoveries. A short tour of the belvedere of the castle allows you to admire it from the height. In the park of the castle, the rose garden and the arboretum can be visited by little train. The little train is random due to the health context and will be reserved for people with reduced mobility and children, and mainly on Sundays.

Pretty castle in height after a climb from Angoulême

The tower was built in the 15th century. The keep is a strong square tower that may date from the end of the 14th or the beginning of the 15th century. The defensive walls are made of cut stone. The machicolations are intact. Only the walkway is damaged to the east. Inside, the rooms and the original staircase no longer exist. The small chapel has remains of frescoes from the beginning of the 15th century or perhaps from the 14th (knight; Saint Michael; Saint Christopher; king; horsewoman...). The remains of the tower buildings were remodeled in the 19th century.

Villebois-Lavalette castle is a real citadel overlooking the village of Villebois-Lavalette. Surrounded by a fortress with seven towers, it stands between Charente and Périgord. A medieval atmosphere floats at its approach. This medieval castle more than a thousand years old, with exceptional architecture, overlooks a charming village labeled "Small City of Character" and "capital of Cornuelle". In 1980, this old citadel was crumbling under ivy, brambles and time, a dynamic was set in motion for its restoration for 18 years. In 2000, Mr. Norbert FRADIN, promoter and patron from Bordeaux passionate about heritage and its preservation, became the owner. He is working to restore it to give it back its superb appearance, its impressive enclosure bristling with seven towers finally reveals its secrets. Something to delight all curious young and old, as well as history lovers.

Its dazzling white stone facade extends over 220 meters in length, in the middle of a 50 Ha green setting. Some rare and remarkable trees adorn the walk through the park.

Three truncated rectangular towers and beautiful vaulted rooms remain from the 13th century castle, which was extensively altered in the 17th century. The battlements on fancy battlements are from the 19th century.