Château de Balsac, Medieval castle in Druelle Balsac, France.
Château de Balsac is a medieval castle with multiple buildings arranged around a courtyard, featuring circular towers and a square keep. Renaissance-style windows and pilasters adorn the facades, showing how the architecture evolved over several centuries.
The northern keep dates to the 14th century, while the main building underwent major rebuilding in the 16th century under the Glandières family. These changes reflect the shift from a defensive fortress to an aristocratic residence.
The stone entrance displays noble family emblems, and a sundial from 1577 records the owner's knighthood ceremony by King Henri III. These details reveal the building's connections to the French royal court of that era.
The castle operates as a private lodging with two guest rooms and a four-bedroom tower suite available for overnight stays. Access is reserved for guests who book accommodation, offering a chance to sleep within the historic walls.
The 17th-century dovecote has strategic ceiling openings that resemble medieval defensive murder holes. This unusual feature shows a creative reuse of old defensive concepts in a practical building.
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