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Origin and history

Château-Gontier's castle came into being at the beginning of the 11th century, when Foulque Nerra, Count of Anjou, decided to strengthen the border with Brittany. In 1007 he built a castle on the estate of Bazouges, originally ceded to the Benedictines of the Abbey of Saint-Aubin d'Angers between 988 and 999. This territory, withdrawn from the monks in exchange for Hondainville, becomes a strategic point against the Breton claims. The guard of the castle is entrusted to Gontier, a vassal of Foulque Nerra, whose name will be associated with the city.

The construction continues under Renaud I of Château-Gontier, the first local lord, who completes the dungeon started by Foulque Nerra. In 1037, a charter attests to the transfer by the monks of land equivalent to a quarter of their court of Bazouges to extend the urban enclosure. Renaud I undertook to hold this territory as a fief of the abbey, thus consolidating the defence of the city, designed to resist attacks from the north.

In 1066, Conan II de Bretagne assiège Château-Gontier as part of a campaign to restore the old boundaries of Brittany, pushed back by Norman invasions. The city fell, but Conan died poisoned on December 11, 1066, ending the offensive. The vestiges of the Breton fortifications, such as the cuts between the Mayenne and the Seiche, bear witness to this territorial rivalry. The castle, located at the northeastern end of the city, then suffered the ravages of the English occupation (1368-1369), before being mentioned as "now demoly" in 1414.

In the 17th century, Cardinal de Richelieu ordered the destruction of the ruins of the castle in 1628, during his visit to Château-Gontier. The underground remains, rediscovered during later demolitions, reveal galleries linked to the old castle. In 1731, a new house was built on its site, while the remains of the fortifications, which were listed as historic monuments in 1930, were still visible on the Rue du Théâtre.

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