Why are there so many castles in Limousin?

This region was at the center of the confrontations between the kings of England (who were also the dukes of Aquitaine) and the kings of France during the Hundred Years' War.

The two kingdoms' sovereigns secured military support from local lords by granting them the right to build fortresses. Castles flourished all along the shifting borders. Existing castles were reinforced.

The first castle in Les Cars, a 12th century defensive structure, fell into the hands of the English before being returned to the French crown.

His descendants gave the castle to Philip IV the Fair, king of France, who never went there, nor did his successor. Although it was well-kept by a castellan, the castle was deteriorating.

Neither the king of England nor the king of France could secure power over this territory in the troubled context of the Hundred Years' War, and it was handed over to brigands who ravaged the region.

The most bloodthirsty of them, Pierrot le Béarnais, moved into Châlucet with his troops and terrorized the inhabitants of the surrounding area.
He finally surrendered to the king of France's authority in 1394, in exchange for a huge ransom.

The castle gradually fell into ruins, but it still represented a threat to the people of Limoges, who managed to dismantle it at the end of the Wars of Religion.
Only the Jeanette Tower and some impressive sections of wall still demonstrate this feudal complex's grandeur.

The southwest façade is the oldest, with its characteristic medieval curtain wall joining two large towers.
The tower on the southern corner, nicknamed the Devil's Tower, was improved by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century, as its resemblance to the Pierrefonds towers demonstrates.

The northwest façade, restored in the 20th century, is punctuated with mullioned windows that are typical of the Renaissance.
A long gash on the wall is left over from a siege the castle underwent in the 17th century, led by a cousin who felt he had been wronged in the succession.

The castle's southwest side demonstrates its conversion into a manor house in the 18th century, with its classical layout, 18 windows carved into an almost blind façade, and terrace overlooking the moat.

In the 16th century, Germain de Bonneval was close to King Louis XII, whom he had fought alongside in Italy.
He had this gate tower built in the Italianate style when he returned, as well at the sumptuous interior courtyard, which reflected his social standing.

During the Wars of Religion, Henri of Navarre, the future Henri IV, stayed in one of the castle's rooms following the battle of La Roche-l'Abeille.
It has kept the name The King's room.

The castle regained its prestige at the end of the 19th century through Hippolyte de Bonneval, who made a fortune through a porcelain factory.

Many private mansions in Paris were destroyed by Haussmann construction during this time period. Hippolyte de Bonneval took the opportunity to buy many objects and decorations, including this 18th century woodwork and paintings attributed to Boucher.

Every room in the castle preserves traces of this millennium of family history. They combine objects and decorations of different styles and periods, as shown in this gallery.

Géraud and Marta de Bonneval are passionate about continuing this history and sharing it with visitors.

The Plô Tower's flooring and beams collapsed in the following century and houses were built onto its walls.

Bought by the municipality in 1994, it was listed as a Historic Monument four years later.

Restoration work on the tower is ongoing, with the support of the Fondation du Patrimoine (French Heritage Foundation).
It will be able to open to the public in 2021, for them to learn about the place's unique history and admire the local countryside from 82 feet (25 m) high, at the top of the tower.