15th-century castle's secret history of exotic spice trade made in French

The Château de Maisontiers, a 15th-century castle located in Maisontiers, Deux-Sèvres, dates back to the Knights Hospitaller's fief in the 13th century. However, it was Claude de Montjehan who purchased the property and transformed it into the current grand edifice in the late 15th century. What makes the castle intriguing is its connection to the spice trade. While it is unknown who the original owners of the castle were prior to Claude de Montjehan, it is known that Claude de Montjehan sourced exotic spices from Asia and displayed them in the castle's grand halls.

These spices were transported across Europe via the Silk Road and were in high demand. The castle is protected as a monument historique. The castle is east of the village of Maisontiers, between the D137 and la Taconnière river. Prior owners of the castle are unknown before Claude de Montjehan. From 1544, except during the French Revolution, the castle has changed ownership within the Tusseau family. The castle is remarkable for its moats, which are 110 meters long and 40 meters wide at the northern-eastern end.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons