The unfinished Château de la Guignardière, a tale of blood and stone

The Château de la Guignardière, located in Vendée, was initially begun in 1555 for Jean Girard, panetier to King Henri II. The design called for a symmetrical structure, with tall wings flanking the main building. However, tragedy struck in 1563 when Girard was assassinated, and the construction site was abandoned. The château remained unfinished until the 18th century when Sylvestre, Count of Chaffault, attempted to complete it. Ionic pilasters were added to the main windows, topped by a pediment displaying the Count's armorial bearings and the date 1773. During the French Revolution, a republican mob plundered the château and defaced the armorial bearings while the Count was forced to flee the country following the arrest of Louis XVI.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons