Château de Montreuil-Bellay

The origins of the Château de Montreuil-Bellay date back to the 11th century, when Fulk Nerra, the Count of Anjou, had a first castle built here. Around 1025, he transferred the property to his vassal Giraud Berlay. After the extinction of the Bellay family in 1217, ownership passed through marriage to Guillaume de Melun, whose dynasty guided the castle's fate for over two centuries. During the Hundred Years' War, Guillaume IV de Melun began expanding the town's fortifications and had the castle reinforced with a curtain wall, 13 towers, and a secured entrance. In the 15th century, following another marriage to Jacques II d'Harcourt, the complex acquired its current appearance with the construction of the New Castle and a collegiate church, combining elements of late Gothic and early Renaissance. The fortress largely survived the French Wars of Religion unscathed. The castle even served as a women's prison during the French Revolution. From 1860, extensive restoration began, bringing the Château to its present state.

The Château de Montreuil-Bellay is located in the town of Montreuil-Bellay in the Maine-et-Loire department. It stands at an elevation of approximately 66 meters above sea level.