Château de la Durbelière

The Château de la Durbelière is an old residence of which only ruins remain, having been set on fire five times during the Revolution. It dates overall from the 15th century. La Durbelière belonged to the Rorthais family since 1250. In 1460, Thibault de Rorthais had the castle rebuilt on the foundations of an ancient feudal construction from the 10th or 11th century, of which no precise record exists. From this period date the watchtowers and loopholes in the buildings surrounding the ruins. In 1603, La Durbelière passed by alliance to the Meulles family through a marriage with Renée de Rorthais. Between 1620 and 1630, Lord Pierre de Meulles had enlargements and embellishments made: the portal, the balustrade, the windows, and the Renaissance-style fireplaces are the vestiges. The residence, surrounded by moats, was imposing. It measured 60 meters by 30 and comprised 49 rooms. In 1679, La Durbelière was transmitted by alliance to the du Vergier de la Rochejaquelein family. Henri de La Rochejaquelein, general of the Catholic and Royal Army during the Vendée Wars, was born and resided there, which led to the castle being set on fire five times between 1793 and 1794 and being currently in ruins. The remains of the castle, which had been listed on October 26, 1927, the outbuildings and the grounds, which had been listed on October 15, 1993, were classified as a historical monument on January 8, 1996, as well as the moats, the dovecote, the enclosure walls, and the pond.

The castle is in ruins. The moats and outbuildings, including the dovecote, remain, deteriorating a little more each day. The castle consists of underground passages which, according to legend, connected to the church of Saint-Aubin-de-Baubigné. The underground passages have been sealed off. Despite the fact that this castle is in ruins, it retains its beauty. A model has been made, so one can imagine what the castle looked like before being burned and damaged by time. This model is located in the town hall of Saint-Aubin-de-Baubigné.

Bélisaire Ledain, Abbé Gabard, « Châtillon-sur-Sèvre - Château de la Durbelière », in Paysages et monuments du Poitou, Imprimerie typographique de la Société des Librairies-Imprimeries réunies, Paris, 1894, volume VIII, Deux-Sèvres, p. 14 (read online)

Mauléon (Deux-Sèvres) List of historical monuments of Deux-Sèvres

Resource related to architecture: Mérimée

Association La Durbelière: history of the castle Portal of Deux-Sèvres Portal of French castles Portal of French historical monuments