Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château du Rocher, located in Mézangers in Mayenne, has its origins in the 13th century, with traces of a primitive castle before the 14th century. The first written records date from 1282 under the name of Rochier, evolving in the seigneury of the Rock in the 14th–15th centuries. The site, strategically placed on the edge of a pond, was initially a granite fortress with pointed roof towers and narrow windows. In the 15th century, the Le Maire family, then the Bouillé, transformed the mansion into a more habitable residence, adding defensive elements like multiple towers to the west and north.

In the 16th century, under the impetus of René de Bouillé, the castle adopted a marked Renaissance style. A gallery of five arches in basket cove, attributed to Norman artisans of Caen, connects the old 13th century house corps to the 14th century chapel. This gallery, decorated with delicate sculptures (sherubins, volutes, badges), symbolizes the artistic fascist of the era. The chapel, dedicated to Saint Catherine and endowed in 1446, houses a statue of the saint dating from the 15th century. The castle also played a refuge role in 1562, protecting the treasures of the Abbey of Évron during a Protestant attack.

The 18th century marked a new phase of modernization with Benoît Eynard, Grand Master of Waters and Forests. He designed apartments in the north wing, reorganized the French gardens, and moved the main entrance to highlight the central facade. The barns built for the farm demonstrate its concern for state management. At the end of the 19th century, Count Horric de Beaucaire undertook restorations, preserving this heritage listed as a historic monument in 1963, surrounded by a park of 44 hectares protected since 1943.

The legend of the Green Lady combines the castle with Éléonore de Bouillé, duchess of the Lude, whose spirit haunts the places. An impenitent hunteress, she allegedly desecrated the chapel of Etival-en-Charnie on horseback, condemned to wander forever. This mystical figure illustrates local beliefs related to castles, often perceived as places of memory and omens.

The seigneurs du Rocher, including the Le Maire, Bouillé, and Roquelaure families, marked his history. François de Bouillé, grand falconnier of François I, or Antoine Gaston de Roquelaure, Marshal of France, embody his prestige. The transmission of the estate, through marriages and sales (like that to Benoît Eynard in 1728), reflects the nobility strategies of the 17th–15th centuries. Today, the castle belongs to the Chavagnac family, perpetuating its architectural and historical heritage.

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