Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers
Castle in Les Trois-Moutiers, France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers is a ruined castle in the commune of Les Trois-Moutiers in the Vienne department of France.
| Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers | |
|---|---|
| Les Trois-Moutiers | |
 Bird's eye view of Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Château |
Open to the public | Seasonally |
| Condition | Ruin |
| Website | www |
| Location | |
  Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers Location within France  Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers Location within Vienne | |
| Coordinates | 47.0923°N 0.0326°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 13th century |
| Materials | Stone |
| Demolished | Abandoned in 1932 |
History
The stronghold dates to the thirteenth century and was originally called Motte Bauçay (or Baussay). The castle is a former stronghold of the Bauçay family, lords of Loudun. The Motte Baussay was taken several times by the English during the Hundred Years' War and devastated during the French Revolution.[1][2]
It was bought in 1809 by François Hennecart, a wealthy businessman, and then sold to Baron Joseph Lejeune in 1857.[2] However, a fire in 1932 destroyed most of the buildings in the castle, which then became abandoned.[2][3][4]
In December 2017, a French startup organized a crowdfunding campaign site, and 27,190 people having to pay at least €50 each joined the cause, raising €1,600,000,[2] to purchase the castle with the aim of preserving it.[5]
The castle was the subject of a project by the French photographer Roman Veillon in his book Green urbex: Le monde sans nous.[6]
