Château de Semblançay, Medieval castle in Semblançay, France.
Château de Semblançay is a medieval castle ruin perched on a rocky rise in central France. Its core consists of a square keep at the center, protected by two concentric defensive walls, with a wide moat forming the outer line of protection.
The site originated in the late 10th century when Foulques Nerra built a wooden fortress to control the region. In the 12th century, this was replaced by a stone keep surrounded by a wide moat, marking the shift to more durable fortifications.
The name traces back to the Semblançay family who shaped the region for generations. From the perimeter, you can observe how the fortress reflects medieval defensive priorities, with its fortified walls still commanding the landscape.
The castle sits on private property and is not open to the public, but it remains clearly visible from the surrounding roads and pathways. You can observe the structure well from the edges of Semblançay village, where the ruins stand out against the landscape.
The northern drawbridge is the sole original structure that preserves the old access route to the fortress. This detail reveals how people once crossed the protective moat to reach the inner defenses.
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