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  2. Patrimoine
  3. Pays-de-la-Loire
  4. Maine-et-Loire
  5. 49440 Candé

  6. Château de La Saulaie

 Château de La Saulaie à Candé en Maine-et-Loire

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine défensif
Demeure seigneuriale
Château
Maine-et-Loire

Château de La Saulaie

    La Saulaie
    49440 Candé
Private property
Museums of France
All the castles of France
Château de La Saulaie
Château de La Saulaie
Crédit photo : Romain Bréget - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
XVe siècle
Initial construction
1591
Seat during the Wars of Religion
1654
Consecration of the chapel
1720
Destruction of the southeast tower
1880-1906
Major renovations by Beignet
1955
Link to Candé
2008
Registration for Historic Monuments
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

The plate ground of the entire property and its park, including the fence walls (cad. At 815 to 817, placed Moulin de La Saulaie ; C 298, placed le Champ de la Prée Neuve, 299, 300, 303, 310, 311, 315, 317, 318, 390, 445, 451 to 454, placed La Saulaie, 301, 302, placed Le Bois Noir, 304, placed Les Allées, 308, placed La Grande Glacière, 309, placed La Glacière, 316, placed L'Arpouleau Moyen, 319, placed Le Grand Arpouleau, 333, 334, placed La Douère, 335 to 337, placed La Butte des Defais, 352 to 354, placed Le Pré Pourry, 355, 356, placed Les Prés Cochons, 357, placed Champ de la Thibaudais, 447, 449, placedit Champ de l'Arpouleau, cf plan annexed to the decree): inscription by order of 29 April 2008

Key figures

Claude Simon - Lord Ligueur and Governor Defend the castle in 1591 against Henry IV.
Antoine de l'Esperonnière - Marquis and Lieutenant de Vènerie Modernizes the castle in the seventeenth century under Louis XIV.
François de l'Esperonnière - Royal Veneer Officer Reconstructs the Mansart style house in the 18th century.
René-Marie-Antoine de l'Esperonnière - Owner and moderniser Launches the great works of the 19th century.
Auguste Beignet - Architect of renovations Directs the transformations from 1880 to 1906.
Eugène Bühler - Landscaper of the park Draws the park between 1877 and 1878.

Origin and history

The castle of La Saulaie, located in Candé in Maine-et-Loire, is mentioned at the end of the Middle Ages as a castle on the old border between Anjou and Brittany. Property of the family of La Saulaye in the 15th century, it passes by alliance to the Simons, then to the Esperonnière. Sitting in 1591 during the Wars of Religion, his powder-box exploded under royal troops, partially destroying the fortress.

In the 17th century, Antoine de l'Esperonnière, Marquis and officer of Louis XIV, undertook work despite the edict of 1626 prohibiting the repair of useless fortresses. He raised the destroyed tower, installed a chapel in 1654, and modernized the house in the 18th century in the Mansart style. The southeast tower was replaced by a chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame de la Conception, while the gate and drawbridge were rebuilt in 1655.

In the 19th century, the castle, at the time very degraded, was profoundly remodeled by René-Marie-Antoine de l'Esperonnière. Between 1880 and 1906, architect Auguste Beignet shaved the south and west buildings, enlarged the house by taking on the 17th century style, and added a pavilion. The park was redesigned by Eugène Bühler (1877-1878), while outbuildings and a greenhouse were built. Listed as historical monuments in 2008, the estate also includes the mill of Saulaia, witness to the executions of Chouans in 1793.

During the Revolution, the castle, uninhabited since 1785, escaped destruction despite the sale of its furniture. Antoine-Marie-Jacques de l'Esperonnière, mayor of Freigné from 1815 to 1830, made minor improvements there before his grandson launched the major works of the 19th century. The site preserves medieval elements (doves, round towers) and classical (logis Mansart), illustrating its evolution over five centuries.

The original castle, square and flanked by four towers, was a strategic point between Anjou and Brittany. His border position made him a target during religious conflicts. The transformations of the 17th and 19th centuries, although partially respecting the medieval spirit, gave it its present appearance, combining ancient defenses and modern residential comfort.

External links

Page Wikipedia
Page Monumentum