Château de Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine, Medieval castle in Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine, France
Château de Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine is a medieval castle situated on a circular hill in the town center, displaying walls and towers built during different eras. The structure combines stone fortifications with earlier defensive features, representing layers of construction spanning multiple centuries.
A wooden defensive tower was built here around the year 1000 under Angevin rule. In the early 1200s, stone structures replaced the wooden fortifications and established the form that survives today.
The castle served as a seat of power for regional lords and remains a reference point in the town's identity today. Locals and visitors see it as a symbol of the Touraine's medieval past and its connection to important historical figures.
The entrance tower has a square shape and retains traces of arrow slits from its defensive past. Visitors should plan to explore the different levels and areas to fully experience the site's layout and preserved features.
The site functioned as a school building for about 130 years and now houses a heritage center displaying local objects and artifacts. This educational past shapes how many people today connect with and understand the place.
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