CastleChâtres-la-Forêt

Château de Montecler

Château de Montecler

To be privately owned

In the commune of Châtres-la-Forêt in the Mayenne department, in the Pays de la Loire region of France, stands the Château de Montecler. The historic castle was recognized as a historical monument in 2011.

History+

The origins of the Château de Montecler lie in the former lordship of Launay or l'Aunay-Péan. This was originally a fief of Tremblay in Saint-Christophe-du-Luat and later of the arrière-fief Entrammes, which in turn was subject to Château-Gontier. In 1605, Launay, along with the lordships of Roussière and Moncrintin, was elevated to a châtellenie. King Louis XIII granted the châtellenie the rank of a marquisate under the name Montecler in 1616, in recognition of Urbain de Montecler's services. Later, André de Montecler acquired the lordship of Tremblay and received permission to be directly subject to the King. During the French Revolution, the Marquise's estates were confiscated, and the forests around the castle were the scene of numerous battles between National Guards and Chouans. The castle itself remained uninhabited during this period.

On site+

Today, the Château de Montecler is privately owned and is a listed historical monument. It presents itself as an extensive main building that remained unfinished and never received its planned expansion. A pavilion with a unique roof and a still-preserved drawbridge are present. Inside the castle, there is a large hall and a room with a fireplace made of painted and carved paneling. A chapel, founded around 1631, also belongs to the estate.

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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image: Hervé Rebours

This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.

Location: 48.1270, -0.4298