The history of the castle

The history of the castle…

The first fortress was made of wood and was built in the 11th century to defend the city of Angers from potential attackers. The Du Plessis family became so powerful that they took authority of a territory of over 50000 hectares in the 12th century. That’s when the castle was rebuilt, this time of stone, and the family managed their territory from Italy.

Neglected by English henchmen during the Hundred Years’ War, it wasn’t until the 15th century that the castle was inhabited again. The new owner, Louis de Beaumont, chamberlain to King Charles VII and later preferred advisor to King Louis XI, rebuilt the medieval dungeon and added a country home, thus marking the beginning of the Renaissance.

A number of owners succeeded each other after the 15th century: among them, Du Bellay in the 16th century, Walsh de Serrant in the 18th, and Langlois-Berthelot, the last private owners. Since their donation in 1967, the castle is the property of the county council. In 2010, management of the site was assigned to the EPCC Anjou Théâtre, a cooperative cultural public institution. Today, the castle is a gigantic stage used by actors, newly-weds, tourists and students alike.

The history of the castle

… and its treasures

The balcony

Commissioned to a Florentine architect at the end of the 15th century to unite the two wings of the residence, the balcony is one of the most beautiful examples of the flamboyant, Gothic style in the region. It is still in perfect condition, despite having never been restored.

The chapel and its gallery

The chapel was built in the 15th century, around the same time as the stately home commissioned by Louis de Beaumont. The original gallery is still in place inside the chapel and is perfectly preserved. People came here to attend mass, if their social status permitted. It remains one of the oldest galleries visible in France to this day.

And lots more treasures to be discovered on the guided tour…

The history of the castle

Natural Heritage

Around the castle lies the park. A vestige of the former stately home, the park covers 40 hectares of protected bocage landscape (classified as a sensitive natural area and LPB labelled). Its hedges, ponds, meadows and wetlands are home to nearly 300 plant species and 175 animal species, of which 88 are considered as heritage. Follow the interpretative nature trail of the little owl and observe nature at work: the red-backed shrike, the great crested newt, the marbled toad, the bee orchid and many other species all reveal the biodiversity of the place.