Monts-sur-Guesnes

Petite Cité de Caractère en Nouvelle Aquitaine In the land of Eleanor of Aquitaine, this “haut-lieu” of Poitou combines a rich heritage with the charms of nature. The highest point in the Loudunais region, the town of Monts-sur-Guesnes was built around its castle. From the 12th-century feudal mound, a fortified castle complex developed, with Renaissance sections added around 1500, the heyday of the Lords of Monts. Among its illustrious owners were the Odarts, the Brilhacs and the Frézeaus de la Frézelières, brilliant soldiers under Louis XIV. The hexagonal tower houses a staircase adorned with a magnificent sculpted frieze depicting hunting scenes. Experience the epic story of this castle, which narrowly escaped destruction in the 20th century to become an innovative tourist site nestling in the heart of a picturesque village.