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Origin and history

The Sorinière Castle, located 2.1 km east of Chemillé-en-Anjou (Maine-et-Loire), is one of the oldest in the region. Built in the 16th century by the Verdier family, it preserves medieval elements such as a tower, moats, a drawbridge and a harrow. Its chapel, classified as a historical monument in 1921, houses murals in the wet (Nativity, Adoration of the Magi, Saint Christophe), major artistic testimonies of Renaissance Anjou. The estate was named in 1246 as "Terra de la Sorinère", but its turbulent history culminated during the Vendée War (1793-1794).

During the Revolution, the castle was partially set on fire by the infernal columns in January 1794, a tragic episode in which members of the Verdier de la Sorinière family and their farmers died. Rosalie du Verdier (Benedictine) and Marie de la Dive (widow), arrested at the Longeron, were guillotined at Angers on 26 and 27 January 1794 for their Catholic fidelity. Their daughters, Catherine and Marie-Louise, were shot at Champ-des-Martyrs in April 1794. On the same day, at the adjoining farmhouse, the Rochard family (including five children) was massacred, only Jean-Louis Rochard (5 years old), seriously injured and surviving.

The family of the Verdier embodies the history of the castle: François du Verdier (17th century) inherits by marriage, while Claude François du Verdier (1701-1784), president of the Academy of Angers, is an illustrious descendant. Their royalist commitment was expensive: Henri du Verdier (1767-1793), a vendean chef, was guillotined at Saumur in 1793. Only Louis Pierre Duverdier (1757-1841), emigrated during the Revolution, perpetuates the lineage. Today, the chapel and ruins recall these tragedies, while Chemillé's church commemorates "Ladies of the Sorinière" via dedicated stained glass windows.

The chapel's murals, made in the wet, are among the most remarkable works of the sixteenth century in Anjou. They illustrate religious scenes (Nativity, Adoration of the Magi) and a giant Saint Christophe, symbol of protection. Ranked since 1921, they bear witness to the artistic patronage of the Verdier and the influence of the Renaissance in the Loire Valley. The castle, although partially destroyed, remains a place of memory of the Salesian Revolution and Catholic resistance.

The site is also linked to civilian massacres during the infernal columns. On 24 Jan. 1794 Crouzat's troupe set fire to the castle and the farmhouse, killing François Rochard (69) and five children of the Rochard/Daileux family. These events are part of the systematic repression of the military Vendée, where Chemillé and its surroundings (Gonnord, Joué) are ravaged. The archives and stained glass windows of Saint Peter's Church perpetuate the memory of these victims, canonized in 1984 for the four women of the Verdier family.

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