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Origin and history

The Château du Bordage, located in Ercé-près-Liffré en Ille-et-Vilaine, is an ancient castle originally dating from the 13th century, but whose preserved elements date mainly back to the 14th century. It was owned by the Montbourcher family, an illustrious line of the Breton nobility, until the French Revolution in 1793. This castle, transformed into a seigneurial residence, was an active centre of Protestantism between 1563 and 1701, reflecting the religious tensions of the time. Its architecture, typical of the "Philippian castles", included a dungeon, moat fed by the Illet, and fortifications adapted to the nascent artillery.

From the 17th century, the castle lost its defensive role and became an aristocratic home, as evidenced by its construction as a marquisat in 1656 under Louis XIV. Montbourcher's family, whose members held prestigious offices (Garde des Sceaux, chamberlain, governor of Rennes), deeply marked its history. After the Revolution, the castle was confiscated and sold to the Guyot family, which kept it until 1957. Today, only remains such as the Dog Tower, parts of the house, and moats, protected since 2012 and 2020 as historical monuments.

The Château du Bordage illustrates the evolution of medieval fortresses into seigneurial residences, while embodying the religious and political upheavals of Brittany from the Middle Ages to the Revolution. Its strategic location near the Illet, its ditches, and its towers reflect a military architecture adapted to the conflicts of its time. The presence of galleries and an adorned portal, perhaps built under Henry IV, also shows its beautification during the Renaissance.

The Montbourcher family played a key role in the Wars of Religion, with figures such as Renaud II, a companion of Du Guesclin, or René VI, a convinced Protestant. The forced conversion of René VIII under Louis XIV marks the end of this period. The castle, sold as a national property in 1793, then became a private property, thus preserving part of its architectural and historical heritage.

The descriptions of the seventeenth century reveal an imposing castle: a large square with towers, a five-storey dungeon, 20-metre moat, and a courtyard divided between seigneurial buildings and stables. The gallery of 45 meters, the palm game, and the central water jet highlight its fascist. Today, the ruins and recent protections (2012, 2020) recall its importance, while its history remains linked to characters such as Paul Séblot, a folklorist who lived there.

Finally, the Château du Bordage symbolizes the social and architectural transformations of Brittany, from feudalism to modern times. Its inscription in historical monuments and the studies in progress (such as that mentioned by Monumentum) underline its heritage interest. Although partially destroyed at the end of the 18th century, its remains offer a valuable testimony of the Breton castles and their role in local and national history.

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