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96:, occupying a natural strongpoint, a narrow promontory that overlooked steep valleys on either side. It was already so impressive in the 12th century that a legend developed to the effect that its founder had faery aid, in the guise of the water spirit
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153:(surrounding fortification) when it too was later enclosed by walls. Lusignan remained a strategically important place in Poitou, in the heart of France. During the French
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Construction of the castle, which eventually counted among the largest to be built in France, started during the second half of the 10th century under
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77:. Built in the 10th century, it reached its peak four centuries later, decayed and was finally dismantled in the 18th century.
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89:(d. 967). This castle was dismantled during the 12th and then rebuilt in the 13th and again at the end of the 14th century.
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What remains today are largely parts of the foundations, some built into steep hillside, part of the
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Lusignan at its height, just as it was in the early 15th century, is illustrated in the
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on the right, above which the gilded dragon flies, the protective spirit of
Melusine.
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The château was long used as a local quarry of pre-cut stone before it was razed by
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In the following century
Lusignan was reinforced in the modern manner by
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After the duke of Berry's death, Lusignan became briefly the property of
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136:(died May 1417) and then passed to his brother, Charles, the future
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tower at the left, the clock tower — with the exterior chute of the
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236:, p. 20. Productions Liber & Editions Minerva, Fribourg/Geneva.
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Buildings and structures demolished in the 18th century
61:Marcher Lords, who distinguished themselves in the
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335:Monuments historiques of Vienne (department)
117:), clearly shown in perspective, with its
92:Lusignan was constructed in the region of
16:10th–18th century castle in Poitou, France
310:18th-century disestablishments in France
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234:Les très riches heures du Duc du Berry
25:Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry
305:10th-century establishments in France
325:Ruined castles in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
256:, Ministère français de la Culture.
143:First the village, then the town of
182:Paul Esprit Marie de La Bourdonnaye
65:and became the royal family of the
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28:, March: the Château de Lusignan
345:Vauban fortifications in France
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232:Pognon, Edmond (1979/1983).
81:Castle, town nucleus, prison
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315:10th-century fortifications
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75:Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia
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340:Royal residences in France
188:for the town of Lusignan.
214:List of castles in France
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168:'s military architect,
134:John, Dauphin of France
125:to its right — and the
159:Bibliothèque Nationale
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281:46.43722°N 0.12778°E
67:Kingdom of Jerusalem
330:Vienne (department)
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111:John, Duke of Berry
87:Hugh II of Lusignan
34:Château de Lusignan
200:, the base of the
106:Très Riches Heures
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355:House of Lusignan
286:46.43722; 0.12778
115:see illustration
71:Kingdom of Cyprus
55:House of Lusignan
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254:Château médiéval
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155:Wars of Religion
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244:External links
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202:Tour Poitevine
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258:(in French)
176:Destruction
138:Charles VII
46:département
299:Categories
269:46°26′14″N
220:References
166:Louis XIV
161:, Paris.
123:garderobe
350:Melusine
272:0°7′40″E
208:See also
150:enceinte
145:Lusignan
119:barbican
98:Melusine
73:and the
59:Poitevin
38:Lusignan
170:Vauban
94:Poitou
69:, the
51:France
42:Vienne
192:Today
198:keep
36:(in
32:The
109:of
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