Top 5 Castles around Jonzac

Montendre Castle rises on an eminence 114 meters high and dominates a vast panorama of moors, woods and meadows as well as the tight houses of the old town below. Its origin dates back to the Gallo-Roman era with the construction of a first oppidum in 52 BC. J-C. The castle retains elements from various periods, including part of the enclosures, a round tower, a square tower, a guard room and underground passages. Since the beginning of the 2000s, each summer, international projects (Solidarités Jeunesses) have made it possible to gradually renovate the castle grounds and preserve this site, converted into a promenade. The castle is open for visits from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Close on Sunday.

The Château de Meux is located in the Charente-Maritime in the municipality of Meux . It is adjacent to the Romanesque church.

The Castle of Meux (French: Château de Meux) is a castle in the French commune of Meux.

Since its construction in the 12th century, this small castle has changed hands many times. It is now the home of Monique Guilbaud, who saved it from ruin and created a farm there.

In 1073, the castle already exists; the first known lord was Guillaume de la Rochandry at the beginning of the 12th century. The 1449 inscription on the castle attests to its reconstruction following the destruction caused by the Hundred Years War. In 1505, Jean de Sainte-Maure, lord of Jonzac, founded the Carmelite monastery on the remains of an old chapel dedicated to Saint Nicolas. The cloister was built in 1657. The young Louis XIV, the Queen Mother and Mazarin stayed at the castle in 1659. The castle remained at Sainte-Maure until the end of the 17th century, then passed through marriage to Espardes de Lussan, which transformed the fortress in beautiful stately home with neat ornamentation and guard until the Revolution. Currently the north wing of the castle houses the buildings of the Town Hall (restored in the 19th century), and the south wing, those of the sub-prefecture. The cloister was restored between 1976 and 1978, and now houses a cultural center, with exhibition halls and an archaeological museum. The towers, postern and fountain in the basement date from the 12th century. Of the old feudal castle, only the postern and an isolated tower remain, connected to the main body by a large hall. The moat in front of the drawbridge was filled was filled in the 19th century. It was reopened at the beginning of the 21st century. The imposing gatehouse is marked 1549 and therefore dates from the 16th century, a period of work including the north-west tower, while the south-west tower, of a smaller diameter, is from the 17th century. The towers flanking the postern have retained their defenses. At each, the loopholes have been retained or enlarged. Stone stairs serve each floor and access the walkway. This passage seems to have been discovered, as evidenced by the gargoyles. The crenellation includes machicolations with archers in the middle of the merlons. The slate roofs are high pepperboxes on the towers, and a curious set with two sides connecting two pepperboxes for the gatehouse The fountain located in the basement of the sub-prefecture, has a niche and a niche frame decorated with sculptures imitating stalactites. Carved mask. The fountain was probably built by Léon de Sainte-Maure, Count of Jonzac, who enlarged and embellished the castle in the middle of the 12th century. In a former courtyard of the castle, a theater was built in the 19th century. It is a round building with approximately 300 seats.

Walk for VTC or VTT because more than 25 kms on dirt roads (in the 28th km it is even necessary to dismount for 200 m) .... to do in sunny weather and dry ground !!!!. On the other hand an enchantment as for the calm and the little traffic. Bucolic seaside landscape on the first half, then more vineyards and countryside on the second half. Note midway in the small village of St. Dizan du Gua a marvel of wooded garden with its Castle (former residence of the bishops of Bordeaux) and its dovecote where you can comfort yourself with a small tasting of pinault and cognac !! !

A French-style garden and an English park on 13 hectares, the ensemble labeled "remarkable garden" (433 in France) where a thousand trees of different species grow, including a three hundred year old oak. Several ponds with mysterious "Blue fountains", these are artesian exsurgences whose turquoise blue color is due to the presence of microscopic algae. Green lawns, shaded areas, paths to relax and appreciate the admirable work of gardeners and nature. And finally, the beautiful castle of Beaulon whose north facade was built in 1480 (former residence of the bishops of Bordeaux), a dovecote from 1740 (with 1500 nests called cells or boulins) and to finish the visit a tasting of Pinault and Homemade cognac in the rules of the art ...... with a sublime taste and most of the production of which is sold for export !!!

The 8-hectare park is open to the public. The large 5-star hotel is part of Relais & Châteaux, which owns 500 houses worldwide.