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Origin and history

The castle of Soucelles, located in the department of Maine-et-Loire, finds its origins in a medieval construction, rebuilt in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century. In 1560, the Duke of Montpensier, governor of Anjou, ordered the destruction of the property of Protestants, including the castle of Soucelles, burned with an angeline house of the family. Three years later, Charles IX granted a restitution of dimes to finance his reconstruction, marking the beginning of a long history of reconstruction and transmission.

In the 17th century, the castle belonged to the family of Soucelles, notably to Samson, the grand-nephew of Marc and Anceau, who tried in vain to dispel his debts. In 1691, an estimate of the estate, including the chapel of Petit-Saint-Martin, was made for 143,847 books. After Samson's death, the estate was repudiated, and the castle was sold in parts. Charles de Boylesve II acquired much of it in 1699, after eight years of negotiations, leaving a portion to Samson's widow.

Under Boylesve's family, the castle regains its prestige. In 1718, the inventory after the widow's death revealed works of art, including religious paintings and tapestries. In 1771, however, Charles Louis de Boylesve, in debt, sold the estate to Jean Baptiste Ménage for 300,000 pounds. The latter recomposes the built ensemble and the amusement park, adding a high quality interior decor.

The castle, with its outbuildings, the chapel of Petit-Saint-Martin and the temple of Diane, was listed as historical monuments in 2006. Its history reflects the social and economic upheavals of Anjou, between the wars of Religion, aristocratic debts and architectural transformations of the 17th and 18th centuries.

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