Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Plessis-Buret, located 1,800 metres south of the village of Sainte-Gemmes-le-Robert in Mayenne, was originally a medieval stronghold. Its name appears from the 14th century in various forms, such as The Visconte du Plessies Buret (1363) or The Clastellenie du Plessis Buret (1581). The Roman route from Le Mans to Jublains passed nearby, highlighting its strategic importance. During the Hundred Years' War, the castle was occupied by the English and became an issue of the Bretigny Treaty. His surrender, negotiated in 1364-1365, involved hostages and financial compensation, although his exact execution remained uncertain.

In the 17th century, the estate, then in ruins, was described as a manable house surrounded by walls and ditches, with a dilapidated central tower. The current buildings, mostly dating from the 16th century, have been redesigned, but retain defensive elements such as an ogival gate and traces of moat. A room with broken arch windows, perhaps an old chapel, bears witness to its past use. The forges mentioned on the old maps, such as the one near the Poillé mill, also recall its economic role.

The lords of the Plessis-Buret, including the Herissons, the Jailles and the Champagne, marked its history with alliances and local conflicts. Jeanne Hérisson, lady of Sainte-Gemmes in 1527, and the Count of La Suze claimed the rights of chestnut, illustrating feudal tensions. In the 18th century, the family of La Porte de Laval, linked to George Sand by alliance, became owner. The site, today a farm, preserves remains like a partial tower and a vaulted corridor, last testimonies of its glorious past.

The archives also evoke murals in a room, now missing, and coat of arms misinterpreted by Abbé Angot. These details, added to the disputes over ecclesiastical preeminences, reveal a rich but fragmentary history. The castle, though ruined from the 17th century, remains a symbol of power struggles in Mayenne, between local lords and external influences such as the English or the French crown.

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