Travel
Where to today? Coudray-Salbart
A well-preserved medieval fortress in France
I always have been a fan of castles and especially medieval fortresses. However, if there are many in my home country, it is hard to find one in good shape.
One year, following the trail of the Plantagenet kings in France, I heard about the castle of Coudray-Salbart in the Deux-Sèvres. I decided to make a halt in the Niort area, near the village of Echiré, and check it out.
I had made an appointment and I had a guided tour with a dynamic history Professor, named Claude.
Fortress of Coudray Salbart in Echire, Deux Sevres – copyright Apotheme
I was amazed how I found the fortress. It was not at all in a state of ruins as most are. While waiting to visit the inside, I strolled around the outside walls on the pedestrian trail.
Claude explained that according to a Poitou legend the castle is believed to have been constructed by the fairy Mélusine. She was known to make buildings at night.
But who had really built Coudray-Salbart and owned it till now?
It was constructed from 1203 to 1240 by the lords of Parthenay for military purpose, to control the passage over the Sèvre river and the Gatine area.
If you are interested in British history, the English and the French kings (the Plantagenet & the Capetians) fought over the Poitou region in the middle ages and the lords of Parthenay were the allied of the English.
From 1154 until 1259, date when they lost the Poitou, the kings of England built and financed castles, fortresses, and ramparts. In 1227 Henry III gave money to enlarge the castle.
One also knows that the count of Artois, Charles X, was not at all interested in the castle when he got it in 1776.
Coudray-Salbart belonged to the Latillé familly till 2000. Then, it was sold to the city of Niort for 1 symbolic French Franc. Claude said it would have cost more to sell with notary fees.
What renovations were done?
Coudray Salbart in Echire, Deux Sevres – copyright Apotheme
The fortress was relatively well-preserved but needed renovations. From 1954, date when it was put on the list of historical monuments, the fortress was taken care of by the association REMPART. Unpaid workers renovated the site.
Since Niort owns it, it has employed workers and new renovations have started in 2005. There are divided in three phases and should last nine years. No documents were found so archaeologists try redoing what they are sure of.
What is so special about the architecture of Coudray-Salbart?
The Plantagenet kings influenced the French architecture everywhere they went. In this fortress, in some of the towers, one can admire intersecting ribbed vault ceiling. One tower has an almond shape and another and has spurs.
Ribbed Vault Ceiling, copyright Veronique Gray
Let’s talk about ways to protect the fortress:
There was a hallway passage to protect the castle all along and linking all towers together. The British architects got their idea during the crusades from the Muslim fortresses. In order to enter the castle, one had to take this passage. Coudray-Salbart is the only castle in France with one such passage. In this passage were many slits for archery.
The surrounding walls of the fortress are high and there is a bludgeon in the dungeon where stones could be thrown.
Where is it:
Coudray Salbart – copyright Thierry Laloutre
Near Niort in the department of the Deux-Sévres,
Castle of Coudray-Salbart, Echiré
It is opened until the 1st of November. It will be opened daily till August 31st and from then every day except Tuesdays. For more information click here.
one of the back towers of Coudray Salbart credit photo Veronique Gray
