The medieval fortress of Châlucet is one of Limousin's major heritage sites.
Inhabited in turn by lords and brigands, the fortress of Châlucet still dominates the Briance valley.
Throughout its history, it has been a village and a community of knights, the palace of the ambitious Géraud de Maulmont in the 13th century, a den of brigands in the 14th, and an imposing ruin since the end of the 16th century.
Built on the summit and slopes of a spur, it offers two fortifications:
- Châlucet bas is the oldest (12th-16th), with the famous "Tour Jeannette", a square 12th-century keep over 23m high.
- Châlucet haut (13th century), both a military stronghold and a luxury residence, was dismantled by the Consuls of Limoges in the late 16th century and is now one of France's most beautiful ruins.
The Tour Jeannette
To enter the Tour Jeannette, there was only one door, 5m high.
Inside, there was no comfort, no latrine, no chimney and a steep ladder leading to the upper floors. The blind cul-de-basse was used for storage.
A veritable city surrounds the tower. There's a chapel to the south, rectangular buildings with at least one storey and tower-houses at least 10m high. Unlike the Jeannette tower, these are habitable, with single-storey doors, latrines, wide windows...
Four cellars have been discovered, dug into the rock and used for storage, perhaps of wine (grape seeds were found during excavations) or food.
Le Haut Châlucet
Before Géraud de Maulmont, the Haut Châlucet consisted of a keep built around 1200 and a few outbuildings. After Gérauld de Maulmont, in 1289, the high castle became a luxurious, heavily defended residence.
Behind its barbican, the castle's ceremonial facade with its high decorative battlements and modern machicolations is impressive. The spur keep, a remnant of the first château, together with the former seigniorial dwelling, the corner towers and above all the powerful south curtain wall, with its gallery of arches, its imposing thickness and its double moat, make the château an impregnable fortress.
For added security, a low outer wall was also built. It dominates a landscape that was largely deforested and exploited by the inhabitants of Châlucet.
The Châlucet fortress and the adjacent Ligoure forest park are of great scenic, botanical and ornithological interest, and are included in the Briance Valley registered site and inventoried as a Natural Zone of Ecological, Faunistic and Floristic Interest (Znieff).
A free app
The Département de la Haute-Vienne is offering a free app to help you discover the rich history of the medieval site of Châlucet.
By downloading "Forteresse de Châlucet", you can go back in time, from the origins around 1130 with the construction of the first castle, to the transformation of the palace by Géraud de Maulmont at the end of the 13th century, right up to its destruction, the different lives of Châlucet are recounted.
The application uses several types of immersive technology: 360° reconstruction, aiming points, augmented reality, video...
It also offers historical mediation: you can follow imaginary or real characters from Châlucet step by step, and discover all the secrets of this exceptional site.
Château de Châlucet Visitor Centre
87260 Saint- Jean Ligoure
Tel.: 05 55 00 96 55
