When was Château de la Mothe built?

Construction dates to 1491, initiated by a lord of la Mothe whose name appears in records for the first time. The outbuildings were added later during the 16th century.

How has the castle's use changed over the centuries?

It served as a noble residence until the 17th century, then became an occasional dwelling. From the 1730s, nursing sisters occupied it, and the building transformed into a public hospital during the Revolution.

What are the remarkable architectural features?

A circular corner tower houses a spiral staircase. The main gateway is distinguished by a corbelled lintel in Gothic style. The interior preserves fireplaces characteristic of the late Gothic period.

Château de la Mothe

Mothe Castle

Tersannes

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Tersannes

To make a day of it

Sleep nearby

château de Vauguenige (Vauguenige Castle)Accommodation on site27 km

Château de la Mothe stands in Tersannes (Haute-Vienne), in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: fourth quarter of the 15th century). The building is privately owned and no visits are on record.

Built in 1491 in Haute-Vienne, Château de la Mothe is a late 15th-century residence organised around a closed courtyard. Its L-shaped main building, accompanied by a circular tower, preserves late Gothic architectural features, including a corbelled doorway and decorated fireplaces. The estate, which once included agricultural outbuildings and enclosed gardens, has served various purposes: a noble residence until the 17th century, then a refuge for nursing sisters before becoming a public institution at the Revolution.

What to know

The main building comprises two storeys, with a spiral staircase in the corner tower providing internal circulation.
The principal decorative feature is the entrance door, whose corbelled lintel once bore the seigneur's coat of arms, now erased.
The estate's former pond no longer exists, reduced to a marsh.
The site has been listed as a historic monument since 2009, a protection covering the castle, its outbuildings and the land.

Where this château is

Tersannes · Haute-Vienne · Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Map of the area around Château de la Mothe

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

87360 Tersannes

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Registered historic monument (inscrit); Mérimée record PA87000031
Period of construction: fourth quarter of the 15th century

Frequently asked

When was Château de la Mothe built?: Construction dates to 1491, initiated by a lord of la Mothe whose name appears in records for the first time. The outbuildings were added later during the 16th century.
How has the castle's use changed over the centuries?: It served as a noble residence until the 17th century, then became an occasional dwelling. From the 1730s, nursing sisters occupied it, and the building transformed into a public hospital during the Revolution.
What are the remarkable architectural features?: A circular corner tower houses a spiral staircase. The main gateway is distinguished by a corbelled lintel in Gothic style. The interior preserves fireplaces characteristic of the late Gothic period.