Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre
Encyclopedia
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
in the commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Fougères-sur-Bièvre
Fougères-sur-Bièvre
Fougères-sur-Bièvre is a commune in the Loir-et-Cher department of central France.-See also:*Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre*Communes of the Loir-et-Cher department...
in the Loir-et-Cher
Loir-et-Cher
Loir-et-Cher is a département in north-central France named after the rivers Loir and Cher.-History:Loir-et-Cher is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Orléanais and...
département of France.
Originally an 11th century structure, it was entirely rebuilt at the end of the 15th century, only the large square keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
being preserved. The first works kept the military aspect (ditches, cannon-holes, wall walk, etc) but, thereafter, more Renaissance
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
refinements were added such as a gallery, mullioned windows and steep-sloped roofs. During the 19th century, a spinning mill was installed in the chapel. The castle was purchased and restored by the state in the 1930s.
It has been listed since 1912 as a protected monument historique
Monument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
by the French Ministry of Culture.