En un regard
Le château en bref
The Château d'Airvault (Deux-Sèvres) dates back to the 11th century and, according to the historian Henri Bodin, is one of the few surviving examples of the military architecture of that period. Built on a former Gallic oppidum overlooking the Thouet valley, it has retained its ramparts, truncated towers and a keep. Besieged and captured by Philip Augustus in 1207, it received Charles IX and the Prince of Navarre, the future Henry IV, in 1565, welcomed by Jean Ysoré. In 1569, in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Moncontour, Admiral de Coligny ordered its destruction in reprisal. The site is now home to "Le Vieux Château", a bed and breakfast offering five guest spaces, including a family suite.