Château de Châlus-Chabrol

The Château de Chalus-Chabrol (Occitan Limousin : Chasteu de Chasluç-Chabròl) is a castle in the commune of Châlus in the département of Haute-Vienne, France.

The castle dominates the town of Châlus. It consists today of an isolated circular keep (12th century) and a residential building constructed between the 11th and 13th centuries, enlarged in the 17th century.

The castle protected the southern approach to Limoges and the north-south route between Paris and Spain, as well as the ancient east-west route linking the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

It is most famous for the death of Richard the Lionheart, who died there from a crossbow wound fired by one of the defenders called Betrand de Gurdon,while besieging the castle in 1199. His entrails are buried in the castle chapel. The castle is also linked with Cesare Borgia. Château de Chalus-Chabrol has been listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture since 1925. The castle is open to visitors.

Source

 * www.culture.gouv.fr, accessed 25 Feb 2007.