Château de la Rochandry

Superb chateau a stone's throw from the shelter of the Chair in Calvin - visible from the GR4 or from the heights of Moutiers sur Boëme.

It would be Chanderic, Lord of Saintes at war against the Count of Angoulême, who would have built a fortress, around the 9th century, on the rock where the current castle is located. During the Hundred Years War this castle was disputed between the French and the English. In 1387 Louis de Sancerre, Marshal of France, drove them out. The English took over the castle and were driven out again in 1416 by the Sire de Barbazan, captain of Charles VII who had it demolished. Rebuilt in Gothic style in the 15th century by Jean de La Rochandry, the castle passed by marriage to the Saint-Gelais in 1445, then to the Tison d'Argence and, around 1580, to the Forgues de Lavedan who had it modified and enlarged around 1613 and he gave a Renaissance look. The castle was sold in 1681 to Etienne Chérade, Count of Montbron. In the 18th century, as it threatened to ruin, the Lady of Rouffiac had part of the walls knocked down. In 1850 the banker Servant, from Angoulême, bought what remained of the castle of La Rochandry, had it rebuilt in 1852 as it is today and was ruined in this operation.