The chateau at Le Grand Pressigny is an interesting place to visit as it not only has architectural qualities and a pretty garden but it is also home to the Departmental Museum of Prehistory (see below)

 

 

The chateau's keep, built at the end of XIIth century was later enhanced by a strong defensive enclosure with towers.

 

 

The chateau was restored around 1560 by Honorat de Savoie, a loyal lord to the Kings of France. The arcaded gallery built during the wars of religion around the main courtyard shows the care devoted to this restoration.

There are good  views  of the village from the chateau.

 

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          The Museum                                                                                                                                                                                         Photo: Matthias Rummer, 2002

The chateau also contains the The Palaeontology Museum located in a more recent (16^th century) building. The reason for its location here is that Prehistoric man lived in this area for four hundred thousand years, attracted by the abundant high-quality flint which could be fashioned into superb tools.

 Their reputation spread to other countries; in the later Neolithic age large blades were exported, particularly to the Alps. Models, an interactive display and videos complete the exhibition and give much information on the life of prehistoric man.  . 

 

 

A major reconstructing of the museum is nearing completion (early 2009) which  has meant that the chateau has been closed to visitors. The work includes the adding of a new  building located at the corner of the renaissance gallery which will house the main museum with the old location being used for future exhibitions