Travel Guide Mortemart

The commune of Mortemart, classified as the "Most Beautiful Village in France", offers an architectural ensemble that deserves attention. Its fame also came from the illustrious family that bears its name and to which belonged the Marquise de Montespan, a favourite of King Louis XIV. The village is built around the castle that Abon Drut, the lord of the place had built in 995. Dismantled by Richelieu, its ruins, bought at the end of the 19th century, were raised by a Rochechouart-Mortemart and are partly bathed by the old moat.The importance of the convent heritage of Mortemart is due to a child of the country, Cardinal Pierre Gauvain, who founded three religious establishments there in 1330, two of which remain today: the former convent of the Carmelites in charge of a small hospital (17th century monumental staircase) and the former convent of the Augustinians assigned to the education of children, whose chapel has become the parish church of Saint-Hilaire. This church has a triple-bulb campanile covered in slate and inside is richly furnished (altarpiece of 1651, carved 17th century stalls, gilded wooden eagle-lutrin...). Also to be discovered are the 18th century market hall, the seneschaussée, the houses of the notables... It is also in Mortemart that "Rougerie Editions" is located, a family and artisanal house created in 1948, well known to lovers of poetry.