Château de la Ducherie en Mayenne

Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Ducherie, located in Saint-Céneré in Mayenne, is an estate composed of a castle and a farm. It overlooks the village and the valley of the Jouanne, a local tributary. Its location suggests an ancient defensive origin, evoked since the 18th century by Pierre-François Davelu, which mentions traces of a possible chestnut tree (small fortified castle) on this site, then fief vassal de la Chapelle-Rainsouin.

The present castle was built around 1860 by Charles Théophile de Plazanet, according to the plans of the architect Constant Boissière. Its architecture is distinguished by four raised corner pavilions, a peripheral gallery to entablement, and perrons on each facade. The estate, acquired in 1864 by Delphine Le Corgne de Trimadeuc (wife of Plazanet), was then transferred to their descendant Paul Tandeau de Marsac, mayor of Saint-Céneré and heir to the family branch.

During World War II, the castle was requisitioned and occupied by the German army. After 1945, he changed hands several times: inherited by Odile Tandeau de Marsac (the daughter of Paul), it was sold in 1960 to the Tequi (Lemaire family) editions, which kept the land while transferring the building. In 2018, the estate was acquired by Korab Spahija, whose beneficiaries now own it.

The archives also mention historical holders of prestimemonia (ecclesiastical benefit) linked to the Ducherie, such as parish priests Pierre-Jean Chapelet († 1784) and Pierre Denais (1789). Among the former fief lords were local families such as the Bidaillers (XVIth-17th centuries), the Moreaus (XVIIth century), and the Lasniers, before its passage into the hands of the Plazanets in the 19th century.

External links