CASTLE OF CHIRÉ

At the confluence of the Auxance and the Vendelogne, at the top of the village on a rocky spur dominating the two valleys, this massive castle was built in the 15th century. Originally, its construction consisted of a feudal castle for defensive purposes. But the battle of Moncontour in 1574 put it in bad shape: the regent Catherine de Médicis had its towers razed to the ground to flush out Protestant refugees. In the 17th century, the lords of Chiré restored the fortress to make it a comfortable home. From 1974, the castle was abandoned and bought by the commune in 1992.