Moncontour
The foundation of the
castle is, like so many others, viz. Loches,
Montbazon,
Montrichard,
Loudun, etc, attributed to
Fulk Nerra (d.1040). The castle was taken
by the English in 1370, retaken by Du Guesclin in 1372 and rebuilt soon
afterwards with the keep being heightened.
Description
The
centre of the castle is the keep, 39' square and 80' high, dominating
the valley of the Dive. The eleventh century work consists of
3 storeys and a basement. This is topped by two more storeys
and the remains of a fine fourteenth century macholation.
Similar pillaster buttressed keeps exist at La
Roche-Posay,
Le Grand-Pressigny and Loudun.
The
keep lies on the north side of a ruined triangular ward, who's only
flanking consists of a rectangular chapel in a rectangular
tower
to the west. To the NE is a Romanesque hole in the wall
gateway.
Why not join me here and at other French
castles? Information on this and other tours can be found at Scholarly
Sojourns.
Copyright©2019
Paul Martin Remfry