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Origin and history

The Château de Bourg l'Évêque, located in the municipality of Simple in Mayenne, derives its name from its past membership in the cathedral of Angers. Originally, this domain belonged to an ecclesiastical seigneury, before becoming a chestnut in the 15th century. It was at that time that the family of Saint Melaine erected the first castle, thus marking its local importance.

In the 18th century, the estate passed into the hands of the Le Mans de Chalais family: Jacques du Mans de Chalais became its owner in 1722, then his brother Michel-Jean succeeded him. Before the French Revolution, the castle houses a rich library and precious tapestries, testimonies of its prestige. On September 3, 1795, he was invaded, and several of his defenders lost their lives in this violent episode.

Destroyed in part, the castle was rebuilt in the 19th century, partially erasing the traces of its medieval past. His charterer, whose archives have almost completely disappeared, is partially preserved in the Couanier Fund. Today, there remains a symbol of the seigneurial and revolutionary history of Mayenne.

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