It occurred to me today that I have not posted very much at all about the history of our beautiful chateau. So over the next few days and weeks I will enlighten you with all that I know! Let us start right at the beginning. The chateau and its park are known locally as Les Clairbaudiers. This name comes from the Clerbaud family (first pic is their heraldic shield). The Clerbaud were an ancient family of knights under the Barony of Montmorillon. Records show that around 1260 a Guy Clerbaud obtained
the restitution of his fiefdom from the Count of Poitou. These records give us his full title: Guy Clerbaud, Knight, Lord of Clairbaudières, Le Bouchet en Brenne and Chatellenie du Blanc. From these titles we know that he was lord of at least two Chateaux - Clairbaudières and Chateau Bouchet en Brenne which is 40km from here. He is also shown as the Chatellenie du Blanc. du Blanc refers to the chateau in the town of Le Blanc, half way between here and the Chateau Bouchet en Brenne. A Chatellenie was somebody who was guardian of a chateau. This title was for Lords reporting directly to a Count or Prince - so not a common Lord. We also know how Guy came to be in such a powerful position. He was already Lord of his own chateau and land when he married a Lucie Sennebaud. Lucie was the eldest daughter of Aimeri Sennebaud. The Sennebaud were a powerful family of Bishops in Bishopric of Poitiers from the late 900's.
Aimeri had no sons, only two daughters so the line died out with him. Lucie inherited the chateaux of Le Blanc & Le Bouchet from her father, Aimeri. Hence Guy Clerbaud was Knight, Lord of Clairbaudières, Le Bouchet en Brenne and Chatellenie du Blanc. From all of this we can assume by the mid 1200's the Chateau Clerbaud here in Paizay le Sec had existed for quite some time. The main hall and two round towers of the chateau date from this period. Inside in the loft area there are many places where you can still glimpse some of the old chateau! The photos here are from a couple of these areas. I always find it so amazing to be living with so much history, if only the walls could speak as they say!
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