Le château, le diable et le bon dieu

Tempting as it is, this title makes sense within the Rencontres d’histoire et d’archéologie du Périgord dedicated to the study of European castles in the long duration of their life and survival over the millennia, from the 10th to the 21st centuries. This topic suggested a spiritual quest able to prevail over the defensive and offensive concerns of the castle builders, but this was without considering the implantation and multiplication of castle’s chapels which take up a place of choice in this work and testify to the influence of religious feelings on the daily life of the castellans and their families. On the other hand, there is no trace of the devil’s presence, but we know that the devil is in the details, and there is no lack of them in this book, sometimes to ward off the fear of evil, sometimes to give in to its temptation… 

Like Martin Luther throwing his inkwell at the head of the devil, who never ceased to bother him in the Warburg castle, where the Elector of Saxony held him prisoner to better protect him from the threats of the outside world since his ex-communication and his banishment from the Empire.