Château-Dompierre is the full name of the seigneury on which this fine residence of distinction is built. Originally, it was a mound commanding a pond causeway, as historians Ch. Rémy and Cl. Gravelat have analyzed. Château-Dompierre was probably a toll house associated with a place of worship – the chapel of Saint-Martial, dependent on the chapter of Le Dorat – and a complex of mottes castrales – the rock or mound overlooking the pond and other more distant plots bearing the name “motte”. This complex was initiated by the powerful lords of Magnac as early as the 11th century. A branch of this family bore the title of “seigneur du Château-Dompierre” in the 14th century.
It was at this time that Château-Dompierre was sold to the abbey of Saint-Germain-Masseré (Saint-Germain-les-Belles) in Limousin, following the testamentary dispositions of Cardinal Hugues Roger, brother of Pope Clement VI. In the early 15th century, a certain Guillaume Poute, originally from Issoudun, held part of the Château-Dompierre land from the canons of Masseré. In 1441, Percheron Poute, esquire, took over the title of “seigneur du Château-Dompierre” and asked the lord of Magnac for permission to fortify his “hostel” in the upper courtyard. In 1444, he repeated this request to the Count of La Marche to fortify the entire lower courtyard. Were these fortification permits ever granted? Nothing remains today, apart from traces of a noble dwelling in one of the farm buildings. In 1597, Jean Poute purchased the entire seigneury from the canons of Masseré.
The château we see today dates from the 17th century. Built around a square courtyard, it features two handsome pavilions with wide openings. The stone Renaissance staircase is remarkable. In the 17th century, this residence was home to such illustrious figures as Joseph du Bernet, first president of the Bordeaux parliament, then in exile in Limousin and father-in-law of the lord of Château-Dompierre. Lucrèce de Béthunes, cousin of the famous minister Sully and godmother of Jehan Poute de Dompierre, and Gaston de Secondat de Montesquieu, grandfather of the famous philosopher and brother of the dame de Dompierre, were regular guests at the château.
Terraces with arcades and staircases were laid out, and one garden was even named “Versailles”.
From the 18th century onwards, the château was leased to a family of stewards, the Marcoul de Lagorce family. The Poute de Dompierre family preferred to stay in their château at Nieul-le-Viroul in Saintonges (Charente-Maritime). Claude-Arnoul Poute, seigneur du Château-Dompierre, marquis de Nieul, took part in the American War of Independence. A frigate captain, he distinguished himself during his nineteen campaigns at sea, including the naval battle of Ouessant in 1778.
During the French Revolution, Admiral Poute de Nieul chose to emigrate. Château-Dompierre was sold as national property to the Marcoul Lagorce family.
Around 1830, Antoine Marcoul Lagorce, the new châtelain de Dompierre and mayor of the commune, had the idea of creating a cloth mill in place of his mill. The idea failed, however, due to a lack of outlets. The château passed by marriage to the Moreau Lajarrige family, which included two doctors. In 1882, Jean-Baptiste-Adolphe Moreau Lajarrige undertook a number of alterations to the south wing of the château, creating a peristyle with antique columns and closing off the courtyard with the old walls of one of the wings destroyed in 1852.
Written by
Michaël THOURY
