Fort House of the Borough en Mayenne

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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

L'Epronnière Fort House, located in Livré-la-Touche in the department of Mayenne, is a medieval building built on the right bank of the Mée, a tributary of the Oudon. It is distinguished by its compact architecture, with three floors of housing, attic attic attic, and a staircase of 80 stone steps housed in a central turret. Round towers reinforce its angles, while a square tower remains at the back. The ground floor preserves a vaulted stone porch, vestige of the original entrance.

The strong house is attested from the 14th century as fief vassal of the Barony of Craon. His name could come from Guillaume Esperon, lord of Livré, who would have given him his name. In 1543, the estate consisted of several farmhouses, a pond and a mill, reflecting its economic importance. The site was also the scene of religious conflicts: in 1589, during the League wars, the strong house was burned three times after serving as a garrison for Protestant troops of Antoine de Silly, Count of Rochefort.

In 1600 Henry IV intervened in favour of the widow of Michel de la Chevalerie, captain in charge of the defence of the place, granting him a share of the ransom of a prisoner leaguer, Vincent Brillaye. The fortified house, its chapel and its moat (now filled) were listed as historic monuments by decree of 30 September 1994, recognizing their heritage value and their role in local history.

Available sources, including Wikipedia, highlight its link with the religious tensions of the late 16th century and its architecture characteristic of the strong houses of that time, designed for both housing and defence.

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