Château du Coudray-Salbart, a remarkably preserved 13th-century fortress located in Échiré, Deux-Sèvres, 10 km north of Niort, stands as one of Europe's finest examples of medieval military architecture. Built by the lords of Parthenay, allies of King John of England, the château was strategically positioned to control river traffic on the Sèvre Niortaise. Composed of two enceintes with a parallelogram-shaped second ring, the fortress features six large towers containing ribbed vaulted chambers and is completely surrounded by moats. Under French crown control since 1228, its unaltered architectural design remained preserved through centuries, and restoration efforts by volunteer associations since 1978 have ensured its survival for contemporary visitors.
