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Origin and history

The Chateau des Plains is a monument located in the commune of Le Bignon-du-Maine, in the department of Mayenne, in the Pays de la Loire region. Although its exact period of construction was not specified, written sources attested to its existence as early as the seventeenth century, notably as the seigneurial place of the Plains in 1634, mentioned in parish registers. The Cassini Map later designates it as a farm associated with an alley, suggesting an evolution of its use or status over the centuries.

By the mid-16th century, the family of the Lande was identified as resident in this area, although the details of their occupation or exact role remained unclear in the absence of complete sources. The castle is located about 1,000 metres southeast of the village of Le Bignon-du-Maine, indicating a slightly isolated position in relation to the village centre. The department archives of the Mayenne keep documents related to this site, such as the titles of the Patrière or the Chartrier de la Sionnière, but their precise content is not detailed in the available sources.

The monument is part of a rural and seigneurial context typical of the Mayenne, where fortified castles and farms often played a central role in the local agricultural and social organization. Although few specific architectural or historical elements are documented, its inclusion in works such as the Dictionnaire historique, topographie et biographie de la Mayenne (1900-1910) confirms its regional heritage importance. Linkages with other neighbouring seigneurial sites, such as the Rongere, may suggest a network of interconnected properties, but this hypothesis requires further research.

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