Construction of the castle fin XVIe siècle - 1er quart XVIIe siècle (≈ 1695)
Edited by Henri de Berziau, Protestant lord.
fin XVIe siècle
Construction of the castle
Construction of the castle fin XVIe siècle (≈ 1695)
Edited by Henri de Berziau, Sully's friend.
19 décembre 1985
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 19 décembre 1985 (≈ 1985)
Official recognition of its heritage value.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Château de la Marcellière and its outbuildings (Case E 223, 224): inscription by order of 19 December 1985
Key figures
Henri de Berziau - Protestant Lord and builder
Sully's friend, a refugee in the castle.
Sully - Stateman and friend of Berziau
An influential figure under Henry IV.
Origin and history
The Château de la Marcellière is a building built at the end of the 16th century and in the first quarter of the 17th century, located in the commune of Marçon, in the department of Sarthe (Pays de la Loire). This Renaissance-style castle is part of the landscape of the seigneurial residences of the region, with a history linked to the religious conflicts of the time.
The monument is erected by Henri de Berziau, a Protestant lord and friend of Sully, minister of Henry IV. During the religious wars, Berziau used the castle cellars as a refuge to escape the troops of the Catholic League. This tumultuous context illustrates the religious tensions that then divide France, and the role of castles as places of protection for the persecuted nobles.
The Château de la Marcellière was listed as historic monuments on December 19, 1985, recognizing its heritage value. Today, it belongs to a private company and retains traces of its past, especially through its dependencies and its characteristic architecture. Historical sources, such as the archives of the Société d'Agriculture et des Arts de la Sarthe or the genealogical writings on the nobility of Touraine, mention its local importance.
The location of the castle, at the place called La Marcellière, is attested by official databases like Mérimée. Although the practical information on current visits or uses is limited, its inscription among historical monuments makes it a privileged witness to regional history and the political and religious upheavals of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
