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Origin and history

The Château de la Turmelière, located in the town of Liré (now part of Orée d'Anjou en Maine-et-Loire), is a fortified mansion dating back to the 13th century. Mentioned for the first time in 1285 as a stronghold of the lords of Liré, it served as a refuge in the event of conflict, especially during the tensions between Brittany and Anjou in the 15th and 16th centuries. The site, protected by moats and a steep ravine, was strategically positioned between the Loire and the hillsides, offering an almost unobstructed natural defence.

In the 15th century, the castle was restored by Perceval Chabot, then in the 16th century became the main residence of the Bellay family after the abandonment of the Old Court Castle. Joachim du Bellay (1522-1560), a major Renaissance poet, was born there and spent his childhood there. The surrounding bocager landscapes will inspire his work, marked by attachment to Anjou. The estate remained in the Bellay family until 1562, before going to the Breil, then to the Thoinnets from 1772.

The French Revolution marked a tragic turning point: the castle was looted in 1793 and burned in 1794, while the Thoinnet family, then owner, was persecuted. In the 19th century, a new castle was built in 1887 by Count Charles Thoinnet, inspired by Norman style, while the medieval ruins were preserved and furnished in a romantic garden. Today, the site houses a cultural centre dedicated to poetry, a rehabilitation institute, and a park labeled for its biodiversity.

The remains of the medieval castle (ruins, moats, dovecotes) have been listed as historical monuments since 1941. They bear witness to the architectural and historical evolution of the site, from medieval fortifications to the Renaissance mansion, to the landscape transformations of the 19th century. The park, with its terraces and chestnut trees, also preserves the memory of the developments made by the Thoinnet after the revolutionary destructions.

The present neo-Renaissance style castle was never inhabited by its sponsor, Count Charles Thoinnet, who died before its completion. Its initials (CTT), however, adorn the facade and interiors. After the Second World War, the estate was acquired by the Fédération des Amicales Layes de Loire-Atlantique, which set up a children's rehabilitation institute. Today, the association La Turmelière organizes writers' residences, poetic workshops and discovery classes, perpetuating the link between place and literature.

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