Clan Rising
Donjon de Niort today

France · Restored

Donjon de Niort

The Donjon de Niort (Château de Niort) is a medieval fortress in Niort, Deux-Sèvres, notable for its two massive square keeps which are the only main remnants of a once-large enceinte. The twin donjons stand on the banks of the Sèvre Niortaise and today house municipal museum collections while remaining a classified monument historique.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1200

Its prime

1200

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1200

What Donjon de Niort looked like in its prime.

Two tall, square 12th-century stone donjons linked by the castle mass, built of pale, closely jointed limestone ashlar with crenellated tops; each keep is reinforced at the corners by circular turrets and semicircular buttresses and pierced by narrow slit windows and a few larger rectangular openings. The towers rise from a pronounced base/scarp above the riverbank, dominating the surrounding low town and the Sèvre valley; the surrounding curtain wall with multiple towers and an 8 m dry moat completed the fortress.

Its story

The story of Donjon de Niort.

The Donjon de Niort dominates the Sèvre Niortaise with two massive square keeps, the only surviving parts of a castle begun by Henry II Plantagenet and completed by Richard the Lionheart. The southern keep rises 28 metres, both flanked by circular corner turrets and semicircular buttresses, in closely jointed Romanesque masonry of high quality; the fortress once covered a vast area enclosed by a curtain wall of roughly ten towers, with a drawbridge and a dry moat eight metres deep.

At the start of the 13th century the townspeople of Niort were besieged by Poitevin lords who blocked the entrances to the town and cut off provisions. In the 15th century the space between the two towers was roofed over and turned into a lodging; the castle was damaged during the Wars of Religion, and in the 18th century served as a prison.

After the Revolution the castle was sold by the town to the district and later passed to the département. Following the first national congress of ethnology in France, held at Niort in 1896, the keep took on its present role as a museum, initially housing a collection of Poitevin costumes.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1200.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Donjon de Niort, including 2 interiors: great hall inside a keep, spiral staircase in a corner turret. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from the Sèvre riverbankBase and battered plinth of the southern keepOuter gate with drawbridge over the dry moatInner bailey bounded by the curtain wallGreat hall inside a keepSpiral staircase in a corner turretView from the roof of the southern keep

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Whose castle

Clans who held Donjon de Niort.

The families that held Donjon de Niort for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Plantagenet

    Begun by Henry II Plantagenet and completed by Richard the Lionheart.

Questions about Donjon de Niort

What is the history of Donjon de Niort?

Donjon de Niort was begun as a medieval fortress in the 12th century to provide a secure base, garrison and supplies on the banks of the Sèvre Niortaise. Henry II Plantagenet began the castle and Richard the Lionheart completed it. In the early 13th century, the castle supplied the besieged town, while later changes included a 15th-century lodging, use as a prison in the 18th century and conversion into a museum after 1896.

What is inside Donjon de Niort?

Inside Donjon de Niort are museum collections, including an archaeological museum on the ground floor and a museum of chamois leather and glove making on the first floor. The second floor contains a reconstructed Poitevin interior from 1830, alongside costumes, headgear and jewellery. The keeps also contain a great hall and spiral staircases in their corner turrets.

Why was Donjon de Niort built, and what was it used for?

Donjon de Niort was built as a secure military base for a garrison and supplies, using its position on the banks of the Sèvre Niortaise. Its fortress included a curtain wall, drawbridge and dry moat, and it later became a lodging, a prison and a museum. The keep now houses municipal museum collections.

Where is Donjon de Niort?

Donjon de Niort is in Niort, in the Deux-Sèvres département, on the banks of the Sèvre Niortaise. The twin keeps dominate the Sèvre Niortaise valley and the surrounding low town.

When was Donjon de Niort built?

Donjon de Niort was first raised around 1200, placing its construction in the 12th century. The two present keeps are described as 12th-century donjons, and the building linking them was added in the 15th century.

Was Donjon de Niort ever attacked or besieged?

Donjon de Niort was besieged at the start of the 13th century by Poitevin lords who blocked the town’s entrances and cut off provisions. The blockade lasted several years and threatened starvation, but the castle’s own provisions, including supplies from the river, made it the town’s sole supplier. In 1224, the castle returned to English hands.

Which family or clan held Donjon de Niort?

Donjon de Niort was held by the Plantagenet family: Henry II Plantagenet began the castle and Richard the Lionheart completed it. The castle later returned to English hands in 1224 and was eventually placed under the French crown in the 14th century.

What did Donjon de Niort look like in its prime?

Donjon de Niort consisted at its height of two tall, square limestone keeps linked by the castle mass, with crenellated tops and circular corner turrets. Semicircular buttresses reinforced the keeps, while narrow slit windows and larger rectangular openings pierced the pale, closely jointed masonry. A curtain wall with about ten towers, a drawbridge and an 8-metre dry moat completed the fortress.

Is Donjon de Niort still standing or is it a ruin?

Donjon de Niort is still standing and has been restored. The two square keeps are the only remaining parts of the once-large castle; the outer walls, twelve towers, courtyard houses and drawbridge disappeared. The castle was classified as a monument historique in 1840, and the northern tower was underpinned after its collapse in 1749.

Can you visit Donjon de Niort?

Donjon de Niort can be visited as a museum. It houses archaeological collections, displays on chamois leather and glove making, a reconstructed Poitevin interior and collections of costumes, headgear and jewellery. The castle is also a classified monument historique.

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