Chateau Guerche

Castle of Guerche

André de Villequier started the building of the current castle of Guerche in 1454. Around 1495-1505, his son Arthus completed the four wings of the castle.

During the religious wars (late 16th century), the castle of Guerche is stormed and looted by the royal troops. Around 1650, César d’Aumont, governor of Touraine, rebuilt the body of the building to the south-east. It has given special symmetry and regularity to the castle.

The two vaulted basement floors contain the artillery casemates, the adjoining granaries and the seigniorial prison. The numerous graffiti engraved in the tuffeau stone by guards and prisoners tell in a kidding way the “stories” of the castle of La Guerche. The visit of the salons allows to get inside the history of art and allows to enter the intimacy of those who have marked the history of the castle like the Marquis d’Argenson or Raoul de Crouy, whose picturesque work fits fully into the romantic movement …

The eighteenth century has seen the decline of the castle. Acquired at auction by the powerful Marquis Voyer d’Argenson in 1735, Minister of War of Louis XV, the castle served mainly as a hunting lodge. Under the Terror, the roofs and the top floor of the castle are demolished.

The Château de la Guerche seems to be heading towards a rapid ruin when Raoul de Crouy and Victorine d’Argenson, his wife, settled there in 1829. They carried out important rescue work, such as the restoration of roofs, and development work (decoration “troubadour” lounges on the ground floor) and the planting of English park, which gives the castle its current appearance.

The castle of Guerche is a private site, open to the public all summer, and listed in the inventory of Historic Monuments.

Contact
Le Château de la Guerche
4, Place de la Mairie
37350 La Guerche
+33 (0)2 47 91 02 39

Distance from the campsite 13 km