Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The château of Chanzeaux came into being in 1769, when Jacques Gourreau built a seigneurial residence in Regency style on the ruins of an old manor house, on the edge of the Hyroma. This site will be deeply marked by the wars of Vendée: in 1793-1794, the castle, the church and almost all the houses of the village were burned by the infernal columns, reducing Chanzeaux to ashes.

Between 1846 and 1848, Rose Gourneau de Chanzeaux and her husband Theodore de Quatrebarbes transformed the residence into a troubadour-style castle, inspired by an idealized vision of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. They entrust the plans to architect Angelvin René Hodé, while the 32-hectare park is designed by the Count of Choulot. The building, adorned with octagonal towers, skylights and neo-Gothic fireplaces, also includes a chapel and a gallery dedicated to the history of the Gourneau and Quatrebarbre families.

Inside, the castle preserves art objects and vendean relics, such as a calyx of Abbé Blanvillain or a procession cross of Cathelineau. In particular, the library houses the original plaster of the statue of King Rene, carved by David d'Angers in 1853. The estate, complemented by communes, a concierge and an old bridge on the Hyrome, was listed as a historical monument in 1980 for its facades, roofs and interior decorations.

The history of the castle reflects the upheavals of the region, from its destruction during the Vendée wars to its romantic renaissance in the 19th century. Today, it bears witness to both the eclectic architecture of the Second Empire and the vendean memory, through its collections and its built heritage.

The site, open to the visit, allows to discover a remarkable example of the troubadour style in Anjou, mixing medieval heritage revisited and local history. Its park, inspired by 19th-century landscaped gardens, and richly decorated interiors make it an emblematic place of the Liguria heritage.

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