Chateau de La Rochefoucault

Appeared in 1019 with Foucauld, Lord of La Roche, the family of La Rochefoucauld has long been considered a branch of the Lusignan, due to the similarity of their weapons. It seems, in fact, that Foucauld was a close relative of the Viscount of Limoges, descended from a Grand of the court of Charlemagne. Only four other families in France (including that of the Capetians) can claim such seniority.
The history of the castle is inseparable from the history of the La Rochefoucauld family, which itself, century after century, is part of the political life of its time. The castle of La Rochefoucauld gives a remarkable illustration of the interweaving of politics and architecture through the life of a family which has owned the castle without interruption since Fucaldus laid the first fortification around 980. With the history of the La Rochefoucauld family, the use of architecture for social and political ends finds one of its most spectacular manifestations. This earned it the justified title of "Pearl of Angoumois".
The castle is an anthology of seven centuries of architecture and the residence of La Rochefoucauld, still present, for more than a thousand years.

To see: the monumental Renaissance staircase (108 steps!), Marguerite de Valois' boudoir, the kitchens dug into the karst, the ceremonial rooms, the guards, the 18th century libraries, the main courtyard and its galleries 16th century.
Visit sheet translated into 17 languages.