Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Machecoul, also known as "Château de Gilles de Rais", is a former castle today ruined, located in the commune of Machecoul-Saint-Même, in the Loire-Atlantique. Built in the 13th century, it replaced a primitive building erected at the end of the 11th century by the Retz lords of the Chabot family. This strategic site, located on the edge of the river Le Falleron, was a major fortress of the Marches de Bretagne-Poitou, alongside the castles of La Garnache, Palluau or Tiffauges.

The castle underwent three phases of construction: a circular tower at the beginning of the 13th century, a castle in the 15th century, and a basement of houses around 1500, with French burning. Additional fortifications were added between 1580 and 1600. The ogival-style site included a quadrangular enclosure flanked by circular towers (dated between 1250 and 1300), a dungeon, a harrow and a drawbridge. At its peak, he housed a chapel dedicated to the Virgin and a private oratory.

The castle is inseparable from Gilles de Rais (1405-1440), who lived there and was arrested on 15 September 1440 by Jean Labbé, captain of the Duke of Brittany, before being tried in Nantes. Other notable figures, such as Henri de Gondi (1590-1659), born there, or Pierre de Gondi (1602-1676), died there. The fortress also served as a place of execution during the Revolution, before being burned in 1792 during the Vendée War.

In the 19th century, the castle, sold to the city of Machecoul, was transformed into a stone quarry to encroach roads and build houses. In 1825, it was still partially preserved, but today only remains of remains: the outer walls of the dungeon and an inner wall. The site, registered for historical monuments in 2004, now belongs to the family of Grandmaison and is partially visited via a pedestrian path.

Recent archaeological excavations have revealed foundations and pottery, while a sound and summer light show traces the life of Gilles de Rais. The Baptistery of the present church of Machecoul comes from the castle chapel, the last testimony of its religious and seigneurial past.

Future

A sound and light show, tracing the life of Gilles de Rais (The Mysteries of Gilles de Rais), takes place every summer on the site of the castle.

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