Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Thévalles, located in Chemeré-le-Roi in Mayenne, rests on the foundations of an 11th century building built against Norman invasions. Its present parts date from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. In 1415, the site was mentioned as a simple accommodation, and in 1428 it was reportedly besieged by the English led by John Talbot. Bones discovered in 1852 near the castle could belong to English soldiers who died in this fight. In 1495, the estate included a mansion and a house, and in 1558, an act attested to its reconstruction.

The estate preserves two 15th-century crenellated towers, once surrounded by enclosure walls and today filled ditches. An English garden was built on the old ditches, and a Gothic chapel was added in the 19th century at the entrance to the castle. An old building called Maladrerie once existed nearby. The site, owned by noble families such as the Thévalles, Maillé or Condé, was listed as a historical monument in January 2023.

The family of Thévalles, formerly a chivalry, originates from the place. The estate also includes a mill rebuilt in 1850 below the castle. Protected elements include facades, chapel, fortifications, landscaped park and a wooded driveway. Historical sources refer to notarial acts and 19th century regional dictionaries as key references.

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