Top 6 Castles around Soyaux

A former stronghold during the Hundred Years' War, the building is said to have served as a landmark for the English, nicknamed the Red Devils, which is said to have given it its name. The building is currently privately owned. https://www.chateau-fort-manoir-chateau.eu/chateaux-charente-chateau-a-puymoyen-chateau-du-diable.html https://www.francebleu.fr/emissions/histoires-et-patrimoine-dans-les-2-charentes/les-charentes-mysterieuses-le-chateau-du-diable-a-puymoyen-16-1426390

Magnificent little Charentais village, with a small church and its garden

The Château de la Tranchade dominates the Anguienne valley on a rocky outcrop protecting the south-eastern access to Angoulême. A strategic stronghold to control Angoulême, La Tranchade has often been besieged.

Three truncated rectangular towers and beautiful vaulted rooms remain from the 13th century castle, which was extensively altered in the 17th century. The battlements on fancy battlements are from the 19th century.

It would be Chanderic, Lord of Saintes at war against the Count of Angoulême, who would have built a fortress, around the 9th century, on the rock where the current castle is located. During the Hundred Years War this castle was disputed between the French and the English. In 1387 Louis de Sancerre, Marshal of France, drove them out. The English took over the castle and were driven out again in 1416 by the Sire de Barbazan, captain of Charles VII who had it demolished. Rebuilt in Gothic style in the 15th century by Jean de La Rochandry, the castle passed by marriage to the Saint-Gelais in 1445, then to the Tison d'Argence and, around 1580, to the Forgues de Lavedan who had it modified and enlarged around 1613 and he gave a Renaissance look. The castle was sold in 1681 to Etienne Chérade, Count of Montbron. In the 18th century, as it threatened to ruin, the Lady of Rouffiac had part of the walls knocked down. In 1850 the banker Servant, from Angoulême, bought what remained of the castle of La Rochandry, had it rebuilt in 1852 as it is today and was ruined in this operation.

The castle was, in the Middle Ages, the seat of one of the most important seigneuries of Angoumois. In the 12th century, La Tranchade was part of the domains of the abbey of Saint-Cybard. In the 14th century, it belonged to the lords of Pressac. The entrance to the estate is via a postern flanked by two asymmetrical square towers, with a parapet on machicolations decorated with shells. A bridge replaced the old drawbridge and crosses the moat dug in the rock. The building is made up of two square buildings, backing onto the keep. The latter is the oldest part, built towards the end of the 14th century. It is rectangular with a blind facade. A hexagonal tower containing the spiral staircase is attached to it. Both are crowned with battlements. The other part of the main courtyard was built in the 17th century. The windows of the south-eastern facade are framed by flat pilasters resting on consoles.

The origin of the house dates back to the 15th century. It is preceded by a 17th century portal. The chapel is the old parish church, bought in 1902 by the owner of the castle, with the old cemetery on the bedside. A square window to the south and outbuildings to the east are preserved. Facades and roofs of the castle and the chapel; portal on the street as an extension of the facade of the chapel; dovecote (square tower south of the castle); floor of the plot containing the archaeological remains, at the apse of the chapel.

Be careful on the descent: it can go quickly and the visibility is not always at the top.