Bishops Castle, Castle in Chauvigny, France
The Château des évêques is a partly ruined castle set on a hilltop in Chauvigny, in the Vienne department of France. Its stone walls and towers still stand in large part, and several carved coats of arms are visible on the remaining stonework.
The castle was built from the 11th century onward by the bishops of Poitiers, who used it as their residence and seat of power over the town. It was expanded significantly between the 14th and 16th centuries, with a large residential tower added during that period.
The castle sits on the hill of Chauvigny, in the middle of a group of medieval monuments that can easily be visited on foot. A visit pairs well with the other historic sites in the upper town.
Above the entrance gate, a niche holds the coat of arms of Ithier de Mareuil, bishop of Poitiers from 1394 to 1405, topped by a bishop's staff. The shield was placed facing the main road into town, so that every traveler arriving would immediately see whose authority governed the castle and the settlement.
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