Neuvicq-le-Château Castle
Battle of Auray (1364)
Miniature by J. Froissart (BNF)
The first historical evidence of Neuvicq is a viguerie (local justice) from the 9th century, established in the village then called « Neuvy » or Novus Vicus by the texts of the time. In the 12th century, a Romanesque-style church was built there. A century later, a line of lords, Guillaume de Neuvicq and his son Foulques, were vassals of the Bishop of Angoulême for their « fortalicum (fortified house) of Neuvicq ». This line was swept away during the Hundred Years’ War, during which this building was seriously damaged, if not destroyed.
Around 1420 the fief was taken over by a younger branch of the Larocheandry family who rebuilt a pre-Renaissance style castle around 1500, the current main building. Sold to the Espièmont family, the fief passed by inheritance into the hands of the de Goth family, the Montespan family, the husband of the famous marquise, then their son, the Duke of Antin, to be resold in 1705 to the La Laurencie family who occupied it until 1792. The fief and the castle were then ceded by the lord to escape the seizure decreed by the Revolution.
Louis-Antoine de Pardaillan
of Gondrin, Duke of Antin
Mr.
Alphonse Porchaire
The château was acquired by private individuals, the first of whom was the Martell family of Cognac, who struggled to maintain it, as its land had, in the meantime, been bought up by the villagers. In 1904, the owner considered putting it up for sale for demolition. The mayor of Neuvicq, Alphonse Porchaire, opposed this and had it purchased by the commune.
After the Revolution, villagers who had acquired the seigneurial lands began expanding their vineyards to benefit from the income from cognac. The phylloxera crisis that occurred around 1870 wiped out the vines, causing a severe shift towards agriculture diversified by dairy production.
Vine leaf affected
by phylloxera
Order classifying it as a « Historic Monument » dated September 14, 1912
The castle, for its part, will become the seat of the town hall from 1905, taking the name of Town Hall. It is under this name that it will be classified as a historical monument on September 14, 1912. It will house several activities: a rehearsal room for the local brass band, the headquarters of an agricultural union, a branch of the Caisse d’Epargne and, from 1906, the post office. Little by little, its surroundings were restored and various elements, beautiful stones, statuary, were found and put back in place on the building. After the First World War a War Memorial was erected in what was the main courtyard. Major work, roofing, interior renovation, were undertaken from the 1950s.
In the 1980s, art exhibitions were organized in the wooded room by the Aurélia association, but it was especially from 1989 that the rebirth of this monument was amplified by the combined action of the AMACS, which was formed that year, and the man who would become – and still is – mayor of the town in 1995, Mr. Pierre Denéchère. Initially, three rooms on the first floor were fitted out to host art exhibitions, and tours were organized. For educational purposes, an imposing model of a fortified castle was installed on the second floor. Then, a new stage was reached from 2015: the gradual renovation of the various rooms. This was essentially the work of AMACS volunteers supported by the municipality, which was not left out, since in 2017 it had the roof and facades of the castle cleaned, restoring it to its former splendor.
The War Memorial
in 1986
Opening of the Aurélia exhibition from 1985
The model installed
on the 2nd floor
Marie d’Aubeterre Showroom Under Renovation (Winter 2018-2019)
The same room
after renovation
Cleaning of the west facade in 2017.