Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The château du Bois Thibault, located in Lassay-les-Châteaux (Mayenne), finds its origins in a former feudal fief occupied since the 13th century by the family of Logé. Herbert de Logé, first known lord, married Catherine Monnier, daughter of the senechal of Juhel II of Mayenne. The site, then referred to as Bois-Theobaldi, became an issue of power between the seigneurs of Lassay and those of Bois Thibault, as evidenced by the trials of 1390 between Robert de Vendôme and Jean de Logé for issues of high justice and feudality.

Abandoned during the English invasion around 1425, the castle was reoccupied by a Scottish company in the service of Charles VII, before being taken over by John II of Alençon because of their abuses. Destroyed after the Hundred Years' War, it was rebuilt in 1467 by John III of the Bellay, who made it a strong place inspired by the castle of Lassay, with cannon towers and arches. This reshuffle is part of a context of persistent rivalry among local lords, marked by armed conflicts such as the repelled attack by Arnault de Beauville in 1590 during the Wars of Religion.

The Sainte-Catherine chapel, founded before 1232 by Herbert de Logé and rebuilt in the 16th century, houses the mausoleum of Louis du Bellay, archdeacon of Paris. Piled by the Huguenots in 1590, it enjoys papal indulgences and preserves tombs on the cross of Malta. The castle, inhabited until 1830, is partially ruined but its remains (house bodies, round towers, ogival porch) are classified as historical monument in 1925. Since 1988, the municipality has owned it and opened it to the public, while activities such as treasure hunts are organized annually.

The estate, transmitted over the centuries via alliances (du Bellay, de Tournely), comprises in the eighteenth century an old castle in ruins, mills and lands in Normandy. The archives mention conflicts of succession, such as the award of 1762 to Léonard-François de Tournely for 98,000 pounds. Despite the revolutionary lootings of 1789, part of the archive (charter) was preserved. The architecture combines defensive elements (mâchicoulis, cannonières) and residential elements (monumental fireplace, vaulted rooms), reflecting its evolution between medieval fortress and seigneurial residence.

Historical excavations and studies (Abbé Angot, Adelstan de Beauchêne) highlight the strategic importance of the site, linked to the baronie de Mayenne. The cellars, used to protect the property of the parishes during the troubles of 1616, and the "horse riding" stairway testify to its adaptation to military and domestic needs. Today, the Bois-Thibault association, past and future, works to enhance its value, while summer visits allow to discover this emblematic heritage of Maine.

Future

The castle is regularly the scene of animations, including the treasure hunt organized every year since 2011 by the Association Culturelle de Lassay-les-Châteaux.

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