Château de Vendôme

The ruin of the Château de Vendôme is located in the small French town of Vendôme in the Loir-et-Cher department of the Centre region. It has been a classified Monument historique since 1840.

The town of Vendôme and its castle were frequently contested. In the 12th century, the Vendômois became the scene of the power struggle between the House of Plantagenet and the French Crown. In 1188, King Philip II of France captured the castle of Vendôme. However, shortly thereafter, Richard the Lionheart recaptured it. In 1194, Philip reoccupied the town and again besieged the castle. Finally, the two adversaries met on July 3 of that year northeast of Vendôme in the Battle of Fréteval, where Richard the Lionheart was able to defeat the French.

In 1515, Vendôme was elevated to a duchy by King Francis I in favor of Charles de Bourbon and endowed with the peerage. In 1562, Charles' grandson Henry, later King Henry IV, became Duke of Vendôme. As a Protestant in a predominantly Catholic duchy, he had to watch as the city increasingly approached the Catholic League. Henry was therefore forced in 1589, now as king and liege lord, to bring Vendôme under his rule by force of arms, during which several castles, including those of Vendôme and Lavardin, were destroyed.

In 1598, Henry IV made his son César Duke of Vendôme. The schemer often stayed on the fiefdom. He had the access ramp built, the south gate "Porte de Beauce" opened, and an additional building erected on the east side. The fortress became a palace for meetings and festivities. After the death of César de Bourbon in 1665, the complex remained uninhabited, and the French Revolution had disastrous consequences for the buildings.