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Origin and history

The Château du Verger, located in Seiches-sur-le-Loir (Maine-et-Loire), is a former Louis XII style castle built between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Its regular quadrangular plan and facades inspired by the Louis XII wing of Blois Castle make it a precursor to Renaissance architectural innovations. It was erected for Pierre de Rohan-Gié, Marshal of France, by architect Colin Biart, with works beginning between 1492 and 1494.

The castle is famous for having received the signature of the Treaty of the Verger, stipulating that the heir of the Duchy of Brittany could not marry without the agreement of the King of France. After 1504, the Marshal of Gié neglected his other domains to embellish this site. However, between 1776 and 1783, the cardinal of Rohan demolished most of the castle, selling its materials. Today, only the entrance châtelet and two front-yard buildings flanked by defence towers remain.

The current remains include the hold of the old castle, its moat, the walls of counterscarp, as well as elements such as stables, the prioral home and a 16th century building. These relics bear witness to its historical and architectural importance, despite its partial destruction. The site remains a notable example of the transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in Anjou.

Listed among the destroyed monuments of France, the Château du Verger also illustrates the practices of material recovery in the 18th century. His history, linked to figures like Pierre de Rohan-Gié and Cardinal de Rohan, makes him a symbol of the political and artistic changes of his time.

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