Protecting the Castle
Protecting the place, a couple dressed according to 15th-century custom stands on a pedestal facing the staircase. They are said to represent Robert de Coningham and his wife, Louise Chenin.
The Treasure Room & Coningham Arms
At the other end of this building, another staircase allows us to reach the thick round tower that stands above the moat and contains, on the first floor, the treasure room.
It is a small room, dimly lit by a single loophole. At the top of the ribbed vault, the Coningham coat of arms is displayed, featuring the characteristic "pairle" (a Y-shaped heraldic charge).
Sculptures also decorate the angles of the vault, depicting a woman, a monk, a bat, and an owl.
Sculpted vault detail: The Bat
Sculpted vault detail: The Owl
Boat Hull Timber Framework
On the upper level, marvelous timber frames shaped like an inverted boat hull can be admired. These remarkable structures demonstrate the exceptional skill of medieval master carpenters.
Guard Room & Historical Mystery
The Guard Room (Salle des Gardes)
Surprisingly, there is no chapel in or near the castle.
Was it destroyed during a siege and never rebuilt by the Protestant lords of Cherveux? The mystery remains unsolved to this day.