Château du Coudray-Salbart, Medieval castle in Échiré, France
Château du Coudray-Salbart is a medieval fortress in Échiré built with two distinctive towers and multiple vaulted chambers throughout its interior. The structure demonstrates how medieval builders organized defensive spaces, with rooms arranged to protect and control movement within the fortification.
Built around 1300, the fortress served military rulers of the surrounding lands who used it to guard important trade routes and river crossings. Its defensive role lasted until the early 15th century, when its strategic importance declined.
The castle connects to local stories about a fairy builder who inspired legends across the region. Visitors can sense these tales while walking through the rooms, where such figures were long celebrated in regional memory.
The fortress is open to visitors but guided tours require advance booking, especially for groups. Wear comfortable shoes as you navigate stone floors and narrow staircases inside the fortification.
The fortress features an innovative vaulted corridor linking its two towers, a design approach learned from military architecture encountered during the Crusades. This engineering solution was groundbreaking for western fortifications of its time.
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