En un regard
Le château en bref
The Château de Crazannes, in Charente-Maritime, one of the oldest in the region, was begun in the 14th century on the site of an 11th-century medieval fortress, of which the chapel, the moats and the keep survive. In the 17th century, its owner Jules Gouffier, Count of Caravaz, is said to have inspired Charles Perrault's character of the Marquis of Carabas in Puss in Boots, which today earns the château its nickname of "Château du Chat Botté" (Puss in Boots Castle). The Crazannes area has also been renowned since the Middle Ages for its white ashlar stone, exported throughout Europe — it is said to have been used notably for Cologne Cathedral, and local legend associates it with the construction of the Statue of Liberty. Classified as a historic monument in 1913, the château, surrounded by gardens and a wooded park, can today be visited on guided tours (around 22,000 visitors a year), offers accommodation for up to 42 people and hosts some forty weddings each year.