Château du Lau, Medieval castle in Duhort-Bachen, France
Château du Lau is a castle built in the 15th century using brick and stone in Flemish style, with defensive features such as moats and ramparts that protected it from attack. The structure reveals different building phases, with the eastern section retaining its original 15th-century form while the southern wing underwent significant modifications in the 19th century.
Antoine de Castelnau-Tursan, chamberlain to King Louis XI, built the castle in the 15th century on the site of an earlier 14th-century defensive structure. This construction project united new architecture with existing foundations, creating a residence that would remain inhabited and modified throughout subsequent centuries.
The castle has remained under the same family's care since its construction, maintaining deep ties to the region's aristocratic traditions over the centuries. Visitors experience this continuity through the furnished rooms and personal collections that reflect daily life across generations.
Visitors should experience the castle through guided tours offered in French, which accommodate groups of varying sizes and last about an hour. Wear comfortable shoes as you will walk through multiple rooms and levels, and allow time to observe the architectural details and furnishings throughout.
The eastern wing preserves construction techniques from the 15th century that visitors can observe directly, making comparison with the later-modified southern section particularly revealing. This contrast shows how building methods and architectural preferences shifted across different eras in the castle's long history.
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