Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Bréhonnière is a monument located in Astillé, in the department of Mayenne, in Pays de la Loire. Built near the village, it is associated with several families and local personalities from the seventeenth century. Its history is marked by successive transmissions and architectural changes, reflecting the social and economic dynamics of the region.

In 1689 Gervais Lefebvre, Sieur du Perron, was the victim of a Bréhonnière assault by the Sieurs de Meaulne and Aubert. He died in 1714 at his sister's house at La Salmondière. This first violent event illustrates the local tensions of the time, although the precise details of this conflict remain unclear in available sources.

In the 18th century, the castle changed hands several times. In 1749 François Moraine, vicar of Astillé, acquired the closet of René Delaunay de Montaleu and Marie Fréard. In 1781 he sold it to Pierre Turpin de la Bertinière, married to Louise d'Aubert. François Moraine died there in 1782, marking a transition in the history of the estate.

Pierre Turpin de la Bertinière, the new owner, is undertaking important work, including the construction of a large house. Later, Mr. Blanchet added turrets to the building, changing its appearance. At the end of the 19th century, the castle belonged to M. Letourneux de la Perraudière, concluding a period of architectural transformations and changes of owners.

Historical sources, such as the Dictionnaire historique, topographie et biographie de la Mayenne (1900-1910), confirm these transmissions and works. The castle thus embodies the evolution of a rural seigneury, between family heritages, local conflicts and architectural adaptations, typical of the French countryside of Ancien Régime and of the 19th century.

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