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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The château de la Motte was founded in 910 by Fromont de Sens, then abandoned to the advantage of Château-Renard. This castle, built on an octagonal land surrounded by moat fed by the Ouanne River, belonged in the Middle Ages to noble families such as the Courtenay, Sully and La Tremoille. It was a strategic issue during feudal and religious conflicts.

In 1531, the castle was sold to Louise de Montmorency, a Protestant and widow of Gaspard I of Coligny. He then passed to their son, Gaspard II de Coligny, admiral of France and Protestant leader, murdered during the massacre of Saint Barthélemy in 1572. The castle, destroyed in 1561 by royal troops during the Wars of Religion, was bought by Louise de Coligny, daughter of Gaspard II, who had him rebuilt around 1609 without ever residing there.

The estate changed hands several times in the 17th century, passing in particular to the Orange-Nassau, including William III, future king of England. In 1661 he was acquired by Élisabeth Souchon, then in 1680 by Antoine d'Aquin, a doctor of Louis XIV. The Aquin family kept it until 1755, when it was sold to Jean-Pierre de Fougeret, who restored it and brought together the seigneuries of La Motte and Château-Haut.

In the 18th century, the castle welcomed personalities like Jacques Necker and his wife during their exile in 1787. Jean de Fougeret, last owner before the Revolution, was guillotined in 1794. His widow sold the estate in 1807 to Charles de Baert, Member of Parliament for Loiret. The castle remained in the family until 1961, when it was acquired by the Locher family. Occupied by the Germans during World War II, it is now privately owned.

Ranked a historic monument in 1945 for its facades, roofs, moat and bridge, the Château de la Motte embodies the tormented history of religious conflicts and architectural transformations between the Middle Ages and modern times. Its octagonal plan and defensive elements make it a remarkable example of the evolution of castles into seigneurial residences.

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