Château de la Boucherfolière en Mayenne

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Origin and history

The Château de la Boucherfolière, located 1500 metres south of the village of Simple (Mayenne), has its origins in a seigneury attested from the twelfth century. His name probably derives from the Boudefol family, mentioned in the cartulare de l'Abbaye de la Roë (fol. 49, 54), of which Geoffroy Bochemol and his son Raoul are cited as first holders. The archives reveal spelling variants over the centuries: Bourfolière (1612), Bouchetvolière (1722), or Bouche-Follière on the Cassini map, reflecting its anchoring in parish registers and local Chartriers.

The current construction, described as a "large two-body house" by Abbé Angot, initially had an austere appearance due to poor quality materials. A major restoration between 1905 and 1907 transformed its appearance: the openings and angles were redone in white stone, and Renaissance frontons were added to the upper windows. Inside, the 18th century fireplaces, decorated with mouldings and partially restored shields, recall the past prestige of the seigneury.

The chapel of the castle, a place of marriage in 1651 between François Marest (sieur de la Ragotière) and Jacquine Fouquet, was considered "useful to preserve" in the year XII (1803-1804). It illustrates the social and religious role of these homes, where family alliances and ecclesiastical appointments (such as that presented by Jeanne Charlotte de la Porte in 1749) intersect. The department archives of Mayenne and the parish registers of Simple keep track of these events, linking the castle to local history over centuries.

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