RUFFEC CASTLE

Opposite the church, on the other side of the Lien, you can see the foundations of the Château de Ruffec. It became a marquisate in the ^18th century and belonged to the family of the Duc de Saint-Simon, memorialist and chronicler of the court of Louis XIV. The ^16th-century private dwelling with machicolations and Renaissance decor was built on the remains of the former château. Although not open to the public, a walk from the church provides an opportunity to appreciate the flower-filled gardens on the banks of the Lien and the beautiful houses in this charming district.