Château de Cromières

Château de Cromières, on the Route Richard C?ur de Lion, is a feudal edifice said to have been built on an ancient Gallo-Roman villa or oppidum. In feudal times, the château was part of the Rochechouart Viscounty, which possessed five castles. An enclave of Poitou, it was on the border between the Kingdom of France and the Duchy of Guyenne, which belonged to England. The de Cromières family held the castle until the fall of Châlus and the death of Richard C?ur de Lion in 1199. Following this, in the 15th century, the Pompadour family acquired the château and owned it for almost 200 years. The next owner was Jean de Selves, first President of the Bordeaux Parliament and later of the Paris Parliament. Today, the château belongs to the Bermondet family, including Jean de Bermondet, the first Marquis de Cromières.