Château de Bayers, Medieval castle in Aunac-sur-Charente, France.

Château de Bayers is a castle in Bayers, Aunac-sur-Charente, overlooking the Charente. Its rectangular main wing runs parallel to the river, with a pale stone facade, regular rectangular windows, a steep brown tiled roof with three chimneys, and a large round crenellated tower at its corner topped by a conical tiled roof. A square staircase tower and a polygonal staircase tower stand on the courtyard side.

Guillaume de La Rochefoucauld began transforming the medieval fortress into its current structure in 1434. This rebuilding phase shifted the site from a purely defensive stronghold toward a livable noble residence.

The name Bayers is pronounced "bayé". In 1295 the land passed to a cadet branch of the La Rochefoucauld family, which took the name La Rochefoucauld-Bayers. The castle's former chapel is now the village church of Bayers.

The castle welcomes visitors during the summer season when you can explore the medieval architecture and grounds at your own pace. It is best to check opening times in advance, as these can shift depending on the time of year.

Guy André Pierre de Montmorency-Laval, who would become Duke of Laval, was born within these walls in 1723. This birth briefly connected the castle to a prominent figure in French nobility.