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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château d'Échuilly, located at the Verchers-sur-Layon in the department of Maine-et-Loire, has its origins in the 13th century, although its present form dates mainly from the 18th century. Built on the initiative of Jean de La Selle (1712-1795), lord of Echuilly and king's adviser, the castle was completed around 1740. It embodies the architectural heritage of the angeline nobility, with elements such as a rotunda chapel consecrated in 1758 and an orangery added in 1862. The remains of the commons, dating from the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries, bear witness to the successive transformations of the estate.

The castle remained in the family of La Selle until the end of the 19th century, passing from generation to generation among magistrates and high officials. In 1894 he entered the family of Geoffre de Chabrignac by covenant, when Jeanne de La Selle married Count Louis de Geoffre de Chabrignac. During the Second World War, the Marquis Jean de Geoffre de Chabrignac will house major works of art, including the stained glass windows of the Reims Cathedral and paintings by Lucas Cranach, to protect them from bombing.

The castle was listed as a historic monument in 1992, with its classical facades, moats and bridges, as well as its role in preserving heritage during conflicts. The protected elements include the main body of the castle, its wings, the chapel, the dovecote, and orangery, reflecting its historical and architectural importance in the Pays de la Loire region.

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