Château de Noirmoutier
Encyclopedia
The Château de Noirmoutier is a castle
on the Île de Noirmoutier
in the Vendée
département of France. It dominates the town of Noirmoutier-en-l'Île
with its almost 20m (~65 ft) high keep
. The castle is very well preserved and a fine example of 12th century medieval architecture.
The castle was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century by the feudal power who was trying to stabilise the region, notably by preventing Norman
pillaging. The island at that time was under the control of the barons of La Garnache
. The keep
was built by Pierre IV of La Garnache, then an enclosure equipped with towers was built around the lower courtyard.
In the 16th century, the castle was held by the La Trémoille
family, then viscounts of Thouars.
The castle resisted numerous attacks:
but in 1674, it was taken by the Dutch troops of Admiral Tromp
.
The castle was sold in 1720 to Louis IV Henri de Bourbon-Condé
who resold it in 1767 to Louis XV.
During the French Revolution
, the castle served as a military prison. During the 19th century, the castle was used as a barracks. In 1871, during the Paris Commune
, insurgents were imprisoned there.
In 1960, a house was built within the castle grounds by the governor of the island and the castle. Today, the keep houses the Noirmoutier Museum.
The keep
at the centre of the castle is solid and rectangular. Built of rubble, it has three floors with the lords' residence at the top. The keep has numerous murder holes and defensive turrets at the corners. The rectangular fortification consists of two towers, a single gate and two watch turrets in the four corners. At the beginning of the 18th century, the towers were reconstructed and the keep adapted for artillery.
Property of the commune
, the Château de Noirmoutier is listed as a monument historique
by the French Ministry of Culture.
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...
on the Île de Noirmoutier
Île de Noirmoutier
The island of Noirmoutier is off the Atlantic coast of France in the Vendée department.Parts of the island have been reclaimed from the sea. In 2005 it served as the finish of the Tour de France prologue....
in the Vendée
Vendée
The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
département of France. It dominates the town of Noirmoutier-en-l'Île
Noirmoutier-en-l'Île
Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, commonly referred to as Noirmoutier, is a commune located in the northern part of the island of Noirmoutier, just off the coast of the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
with its almost 20m (~65 ft) high 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...
. The castle is very well preserved and a fine example of 12th century medieval architecture.
History
The first traces of the castle appeared in 830 with the construction of a castrum by the abbot Hilbold, from the monastery of Saint-Philbert. It served to defend the monks and the island's population from the Vikings.The castle was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century by the feudal power who was trying to stabilise the region, notably by preventing Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
pillaging. The island at that time was under the control of the barons of La Garnache
La Garnache
La Garnache is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
. The 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...
was built by Pierre IV of La Garnache, then an enclosure equipped with towers was built around the lower courtyard.
In the 16th century, the castle was held by the La Trémoille
La Trémoille
Members of the House of La Trémoille, were part of an old French family which derives its name from a village in the department of Vienne....
family, then viscounts of Thouars.
The castle resisted numerous attacks:
- the English in 1342 and 1360, and again in 1386 under the command of the Earl of ArundelRichard FitzAlan, 11th Earl of ArundelRichard FitzAlan, 11th Earl of Arundel and 9th Earl of Surrey KG was an English medieval nobleman and military commander.-Lineage:...
- the Spanish in 1524 and 1588
but in 1674, it was taken by the Dutch troops of Admiral Tromp
Maarten Tromp
Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp was an officer and later admiral in the Dutch navy. His first name is also spelled as Maerten.-Early life:...
.
The castle was sold in 1720 to Louis IV Henri de Bourbon-Condé
Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon
Louis Henri de Bourbon, Duke of Bourbon, Prince of Condé was head of the cadet Bourbon-Condé branch of the French royal House of Bourbon from 1710 to his death, and served as prime minister to his kinsman Louis XV from 1723 to 1726.Despite...
who resold it in 1767 to Louis XV.
During the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, the castle served as a military prison. During the 19th century, the castle was used as a barracks. In 1871, during the Paris Commune
Paris Commune
The Paris Commune was a government that briefly ruled Paris from March 18 to May 28, 1871. It existed before the split between anarchists and Marxists had taken place, and it is hailed by both groups as the first assumption of power by the working class during the Industrial Revolution...
, insurgents were imprisoned there.
In 1960, a house was built within the castle grounds by the governor of the island and the castle. Today, the keep houses the Noirmoutier Museum.
Architecture
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...
at the centre of the castle is solid and rectangular. Built of rubble, it has three floors with the lords' residence at the top. The keep has numerous murder holes and defensive turrets at the corners. The rectangular fortification consists of two towers, a single gate and two watch turrets in the four corners. At the beginning of the 18th century, the towers were reconstructed and the keep adapted for artillery.
Property of 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...
, the Château de Noirmoutier is listed as a 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.
External links
Sources
- www.culture.gouv.fr, accessed 6 Feb 2007