Château de Taillebourg, Medieval castle in Taillebourg, France.

The Château de Taillebourg is a medieval castle built on elevated ground above the Charente River, equipped with stone walls and watchtowers that survey the valley below. The complex consists of multiple building sections arranged around a central courtyard, reflecting different periods of medieval construction.

The castle was built in the medieval period and served as a fortress during the Hundred Years War to control the Charente River and important trade routes. Its strategic location made it a contested possession between French and English powers.

The name Taillebourg comes from the castle itself, not from a family: it was a county by the 15th century, and its history is documented in the archives of the La Trémoille family. Louise de Coëtivy brought it as dowry to Charles de La Trémoille in 1501. The castle bell, given in 1732 by Frédéric-Guillaume de La Trémoille and Anne de Bouillon, was moved after the Revolution to the church of Messac, where its inscription can still be read.

Access to the site is on foot from the village, with the best views available from the bridge crossing the Charente. The outdoor site is open year-round, and the paths are walkable, though visitors should be mindful of uneven ground and steps.

The castle bell, cast by Louis Brossard in 1732 for Frédéric-Guillaume de La Trémoille and his wife Anne de Bouillon, was moved after the Revolution to the church of Messac, where its inscription still names the Château de Taillebourg.