Welcome to coulonges-sur-l'autize

At the time of its size, the castle offered a " court of the honneur" , square, formed by the principal frontage of more than 30 meters, and by the right wings and left which reached 40 meters length.

Obviously, the idea of this castle, the impulse first were given by Geoffroy of Estissac. It appears certain that the plans of the castle were drawn up by Lienart of Réau, large artist with whom one is indebted by the splendid works.

Octave of Rochebrune, in 1866, made dismantle and transport the principal decorative elements of the castle, the boxes of the ceilings, the vaults of the lantern of the large staircase, the porch of the entry of the large hall, the staircase of honor as well as the chimney, known as " alchimique" , with the New Ground castle with Fontenay-The-Count.

Thus let us leave side all these elements to stop us in the interior of the kitchens and the basements which go down to 7 meters under ground and to fill with wonder us at boldness at the design: only one central column twenty seven centimetres in diameter supports, indeed, four compartments of losangées vaults and, consequently all the weight of the building. The sight alone, can give an idea of the boldness of the design that you needed to dare to throw arcs, if little curved, wall of the column and to make support a similar load by such a thin pile of diameter.

Two of these rooms like the staircase which led there, was restored to better be able to appreciate them.

The church St Etienne, classified, Coulonges-sur-l'Autize (formerly Coulonges the Royal ones, priory of the Abbey of Nieul on Autise) is made conspicuous by its membership of the dashes of the Middle Ages and the Rebirth as well as the bizarrery of its plan.

Perhaps directed classically Western, is started in November, month or the sun appears in the middle of the stained glass of the bedside by sweeping the central alley to join the gate.

Its plan appears the result of constraints in the rehandling and the enlarging.

The nave principal, obscure, in which you penetrate by the Western door is flanked in North only one low side which goes widening of West Is to be welded with it with a relatively vast chorus opened out in three compartments more largely enlightened.

This museum will make reappear in you two old trades, by its exposure of tools reporting the various stages of manufacture of a wheel of cart or a barrel.
 During the visit, you will be pleased to hear the last cartwright of Coulonges-sur-l'Autize working. Last historical asset, the church Saint Etienne dating from the XII century however it was altered at the XV century increased of a side aisle in the north of the primitive Romance nave. Other small monuments are to be visited like the Markets of style Baltard (XIX), the lime kilns of Pilorges (XIX) and the Large Chimney (1870).