Château d'O, Gothic castle in Mortrée, France
The Château d'O is a castle built on stilts above a pond, featuring steep pointed roofs and slender turrets that rise prominently. Its structure blends Gothic and Renaissance elements from different building periods.
Following the Hundred Years' War, the original 11th-century fortress was transformed between the 15th and 17th centuries into its current form. This shift reflected how castles evolved from purely defensive structures into comfortable residences for wealthy families.
The interior displays 18th-century wall paintings that show the tastes of the families who lived here. The rooms reveal how wealthy residents furnished their spaces and what mattered to them in their daily lives.
Access to the castle requires visitors to navigate uneven ground, especially near the pond and when climbing to upper areas. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and extra care is needed during wet weather.
In the 1970s, a couple named Jacques and Yolande Lacretelle undertook an extensive restoration that saved the castle from decay. Their meticulous work was recognized with a major European heritage award in 1978.
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