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.