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Origin and history

The Château de Montigny-le-Gannelon, located in Montigny-le-Gannelon (Eure-et-Loir), finds its origins in a medieval fortress dating back to the Carolingian period. Reconstructed in 1495 by Jacques de Renty in an emerging Renaissance style, it preserves two iconic towers: the Tower of the Ladies and the Tower of the Clock. These elements, as well as the central cloister with slender windows, testify to this architectural period.

In the 18th century, the estate came into the hands of the Montmorency-Laval family, including Anne-Adrien-Pierre de Montmorency-Laval, Ambassador under Louis XVIII and Charles X. In 1834, a pavilion was added to the northern facade, and the family coat of arms (agles, red crosses, shells) were affixed above the entrance. The motto God helps the second Christians Levis recalls their heritage, especially their connection to the city of Lévis in Canada, whose opening speeches (1895) are kept in a book unique to the castle.

The eastern facade, of neo-Gothic style, was built in 1879 by architect Clement Parent, pupil of Viollet-le-Duc, for Sigismund de Lévis and his wife. A ride, built from 1893 by architect Granger, then completes the estate, originally intended for horse comfort. The castle, partially inscribed in the Historical Monuments (1927, 1993), thus blends medieval heritage, Renaissance and 19th century transformations.

The architecture of the castle reveals various symbols: the seven capital sins carved on the west facade, a commemorative plaque dedicated to Marshal François Gaston de Lévis (1720–87), and garlands adorning the Clock Tower, evoking local viticulture or the widowhood of an owner. The cloister, initially open, was closed in the 19th century, while the main staircase, with a Renaissance ceiling, exhibited paintings of the Marshals of the Lévis family.

The estate, open to the public, is part of a beautiful landscape between Chartres and Tours, dominated by the Loir River. Its history reflects architectural and social developments, from medieval fortresses to the aristocratic residences of the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as its present role as an agricultural museum and a place of memory.

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