Medieval drink in a medieval castle

Château Coudray-Salbart

My youngest daughter lives in France, and her French 'husband runs alongside his own work a peculiar castle called Château Coudray-Salbart in the French countryside. The castle is special in at least three ways. First of all, this defensive castle, built at the beginning of the 13th century, has a unique vaulted corridor, which is not found in any other castle of this era. Secondly, there are large towers of various shapes, and thirdly, there are many different types of vaulting of roofs in towers and other places, and nobody knows why. The oldest room has a high dome with a hole in the ceiling. You'll hear the reason for that on a visit.

The castle has interesting details, such as narrow vertically striped-shaped openings, from which you could shoot with a bow over a surprisingly wide area, but into which  an enemy sniper couldn't shoot an arrow.

The castle has stood stately on its hill for 800 years. It is very little known and the association that manages the castle today has some plans to raise its profile. The association is already about 70 years old. My son-in-law, a guide in the castle, by the way, speaks perfect English -a rare Frenchman!

A local grandee, Eleanor of Aquitaine married the Englishman Henry Plantagenet in 1152. Henry became King of England two years later, in 1154, and because Eleanor owned vast tracts of land, the entire area of the castle fell into the hands of the English king. It was at the center of events in the showdown between the Capetines and the Plantagenes. In 1242, however, the area passed back to France again, and the castle lost its defensive significance. It passed from owner to owner until in 2000, the then owner sold it to the agglomeration of Niort for a symbolic price of one franc. The castle has since been restored and can be visited today.

Local “hypocrase” drink, i.e. flavored red wine,can be purchased from the castle's little store. Spices such as cinnamon and sugar are added to the red wine and allowed to stand for a couple of days. This drink has been drunk since the Middle Ages, so it is not a novelty. Very tasty for those of us who are used to mulled wine. Have at least one glass of wine and enjoy it in the sunny courtyard of the castle on simple chairs. The views are great, the big lime trees provide shade from too much sun and the world is far away from here. This is as non-mass tourism place as it could ever be!

The former moat of the castle is now inhabited by  couple of sheep called Jean-Pierre and Michel. These days when I arrive at the castle in my travel package, handsomely driven by husky dogs (yes, pretty exotic in the French countryside), the sheep stay at a safe respectful distance.