BARBEZIEUX CASTLE

Situated on the hill, dominating the city since the Middle Ages, the castle of the ancient Berbezil has seen epic battles between the Lords of Aquitaine and the Counts of Angoulême, between Capetian kings and Plantagenets. It also welcomed prestigious characters: the beautiful Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Black Prince, Richelieu and Louvois... But the castle was largely dismantled by the local municipality in 1845. The ramparts, which made Barbezieux a fortified town comparable to Carcassonne, were largely destroyed, as were the remains of the Saint-Ymas church and the Chavaroche gate. Only one gate remains today, transformed into a dwelling, the mullioned windows of the 15th century, the machicolations, a tower of the 12th century and a remainder of the surrounding wall... The 4/5th of the original ensemble has disappeared. In 2015, rehabilitation work transformed the castle, which now houses a new theatre. A multi-disciplinary cultural season (theatre, dance, humour, music, etc.) is on offer, punctuated by times of exchange with the artists. Apart from the guided tours, you can discover the history of the castle in virtual reality by downloading the "Château de Barbezieux" application on your mobile phone. For a complete immersion, ask for the virtual reality goggles (on loan) at the reception desk of the castle or at the Barbezieux tourist office.
A must see.