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Origin and history

The Château de la Villatte is a 19th century building located in Montigné-le-Brillant, in the department of Mayenne. It is characterized by modern architecture, marked by a high square tower. This castle is emblematic of the rise of the aristocratic buildings of this period, mixing residential style and symbolic defensive elements.

In 1870, Mr. Trochon de la Tréhardière, then owner, had a 2.10 metre high statue of the Sainte-Vierge erected on the slope of the hill facing the village. This project was carried out thanks to the commitment of the parish priest and parishioners, who participated actively in earthworks and road diversion for two months. The statue bears witness to the religious fervour of the time and the collective mobilization around the symbols of faith.

The estate has known several owners over the centuries. In 1772 it was sold by the heirs of Madeleine Maucourt de Bourjolly to Guillaume Lelièvre, from Mayenne. Two years later, in 1773, Louis de Dieusie mortgaged two rents there, one to priest Louis Duchemin de la Frogerie. These transactions reflect the economic and social dynamics of the Old Regime, marked by land trade and nobility.

La Petite-Villatte, an outbuilding of the estate, belonged in 1744 to Simon-Brice Coul de Bellée. In 1794 Jacques Regereau, resident on the spot, was declared "very suspicious" for opposing the oath imposed for the appointment of the mayor and prosecutor. This episode illustrates local political tensions during the French Revolution, where loyalties were scrutinized and oppositions repressed.

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