The Château de Garde-Épée in Saint-Brice is built on the edge of a plateau overlooking the Charente in the distance.
In January 1553, Sieur Ancelin, a merchant, bought this fief from the Marquis de Caravaz (the Marquis de Carabas in Perrault's tale) with permission to build a crenellated house there with a gigantic flight, fish pond and warren.
Around the middle of the 17th century, Jean Ancelin having died childless, his heirs sold the domain of Garde-Épée to a Mr. Richard, who was still the owner in 1698. Finally the house of Garde-Épée passed into the family of Jarnac de Garde-Épée, which still owns it today with the abbey of Châtre, through a private company, the Société de Garde-Épée, whose main shareholder is Henri de Jarnac.
On the right, before the entrance, the imposing round flight has 2600 putlogs. It is covered with a pepperbox roof with three skylights and dates from 1553. The arms of the Ancelins are visible above the door.
The entrance is imposing with a carriage entrance surmounted by a long curtain wall crowned with merlons.
The buildings form a vast quadrilateral. The house which occupies the north side was rebuilt at the end of the 18th century with two levels under a low roof; it is extended by two single level wings.
The courtyard has a curious well covered with a roof.
The castle has been listed as a historical monument since October 30, 1973.