What is the historical significance of Roche-Marteau château ?

The château dates essentially from the late 15th century and preserves rare fortification elements, including a wooden gallery without regional equivalent and an entrance gate-tower with drawbridge and cannon arrow-loops.

Who inhabited Roche-Marteau château in the Middle Ages ?

According to historical records, Henry the Young, eldest son of Eleanor of Aquitaine, is said to have resided there in the Middle Ages.

Which elements of the château are protected as historical monuments ?

The entire entrance gate-tower and the wooden gallery of the residential building were listed as historical monuments by decree in 2005.

Château de la Roche-Marteau

Roche-Marteau Castle

Roiffé

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Roiffé

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Castle of BrézéIn February; in March; in April, May, June; in July and August; in September; in October, November, December and January10 km
Château de Saumur (Saumur Castle)from €9.5017 km
Chinon CastleJanuary - February and November - December; March to June and September-October; July-August15 km

Sleep nearby

This week in the agenda

Brunch au Château de RochecotteSun, Nov 8 · château de Rochecotte26 km

Château de la Roche-Marteau stands in Roiffé (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, first quarter of the 16th century). The building is privately owned and no visits are on record.

La Roche-Marteau château, situated in Roiffé in the Vienne department, has origins dating back to the 11th century. The building preserves fortified structures typical of the late Middle Ages, particularly an entrance gate-tower flanked by two towers, fitted with arrow-loops and machicolations. The site includes a residential wing whose distinctive feature is a wooden gallery, remarkable for being without known equivalent in regional châteaux. In 2005, the gate-tower and this gallery were listed as historical monuments.

What to know

The gate-tower defences feature cannon arrow-loops and a double-door drawbridge, characteristic of 15th-century military architecture.
The residential building has an L-shaped plan organized around a spiral staircase tower, completed in the 19th century by a neo-Gothic tower.
The castle's perimeter is reinforced by a turret mounted on a buttress and provided with gun ports, while the south side preserves remains of two earlier towers.
A ruined chapel stands against the enclosure, attached to a small vaulted dwelling accessed by an external spiral staircase.

Where this château is

Roiffé · Vienne · Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Map of the area around Château de la Roche-Marteau

Loading the map…

This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

86120 Roiffé

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

Get directions View on a map

Château phone number

+33 5 49 22 36 31

Call

The safest check before setting off: today’s hours, guided-tour availability, where to park.

4.5 / 5from 17 Google reviews

Heritage status: Registered historic monument (inscrit); Mérimée record PA86000030
Period of construction: fourth quarter of the 15th century, first quarter of the 16th century

Frequently asked

What is the historical significance of Roche-Marteau château ?: The château dates essentially from the late 15th century and preserves rare fortification elements, including a wooden gallery without regional equivalent and an entrance gate-tower with drawbridge and cannon arrow-loops.
Who inhabited Roche-Marteau château in the Middle Ages ?: According to historical records, Henry the Young, eldest son of Eleanor of Aquitaine, is said to have resided there in the Middle Ages.
Which elements of the château are protected as historical monuments ?: The entire entrance gate-tower and the wooden gallery of the residential building were listed as historical monuments by decree in 2005.