The construction of the keep dates from the 12th century, on the initiative of the Viscount of Thouars, one of the most powerful families of Poitou. At the beginning of the 15th century, Catherine de Thouars married Gille de Rais and made the castle her residence. It transforms the austere and cold keep into a residential tower. It adds windows, stairs and sculpted fireplaces. In 1440, on the death of Gilles de Rais, Catherine de Thouars married Jean II de Vendôme and left Pouzauges. It was confiscated by the Revolution and became national before being bought back and returned to its owners in 1801\. The Keep is built on a Niortais type, namely square with rounded corner buttresses. In this, it resembles the Tiffauges Keep, another home of Gilles de Rais. It is 26 meters high and its walls are 1.5 m thick. It has preserved loopholes, windows with cushions, the remains of wood hourds, latrines. The dungeon was protected by fortifications. The main curtain, of the 3 existing at the time,

Château, hôtel urbain, palais, manoir

Parking nearby