Château de la Sauzaie

Château de la Sauzaie is a castle in Saint-Xandre with facades featuring northern wings and surrounded by a U-shaped moat for defense. Extensive oak trees planted around the perimeter create a wooded setting that frames the property.

The castle served as Cardinal Richelieu's headquarters during the 1627 to 1628 siege of La Rochelle, where he coordinated military operations from its rooms. This period marked a turning point in the region's political control and power struggles.

The rooms inside show 18th-century craftsmanship through wooden wall panels, ornamental fireplaces, and detailed door frames that reflect how people lived at that time. These details reveal the skills and aesthetic choices that shaped daily life in the residence during this period.

The castle is located on Rue du Château and is most easily visited during Heritage Days when it opens to the public. The grounds can be rented for events, so checking ahead helps you plan your visit appropriately.

The property changed hands in 1462 through a royal exchange for a townhouse in Bordeaux, showing how valuable such estates were to the nobility. This unusual trade reveals the high regard in which these landholdings were held during medieval times.