Château de Bonneval

The Château de Bonneval is located in the center of Coussac-Bonneval, a small town in the Haute-Vienne department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Bonneval is an old fortified château: the first construction dates from 930! The medieval fortress no longer exists: the present château dates from the 14th century and was built at the request of Jean I, lord of Bonneval. Over the centuries, additions and embellishments were made. The inner courtyard is redesigned in a Renaissance style with twisted columns. It was in the 18th century that major works were undertaken: if the medieval character faded on certain facades in favour of a more contemporary architecture, the defense towers were preserved. In the 19th century, a glazed gallery was added. The Château de Bonneval is still inhabited by the family who had it built, the Marquis de Bonneval. The Bonneval family is one of the oldest aristocratic families in France: its origins date back to the beginning of the 11th century, in Limousin. The Bonneval family has managed to preserve its cultural heritage: it is rare to preserve a property for more than ten centuries! Nevertheless, each generation has been able to appropriate the places and modify them as it sees fit.