Home of Marguerite d'Anjou 1480 (≈ 1480)
After King René died.
XVe siècle
Construction of the mansion
Construction of the mansion XVe siècle (≈ 1550)
Built by the Vignolles family.
29 juin 1990
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 29 juin 1990 (≈ 1990)
Protection of the manor and troglodytes.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Manor built at the foot of the cliff; troglodytic habitat located below the plots (cad. A 277, 299, 301): inscription by order of 29 June 1990
Key figures
Roi René d'Anjou - Indirect owner
Family of Vignolles at his service.
Marguerite d'Anjou - Former Queen of England
Welcomed in 1480, uncertain presence.
Famille des Vignolles - Owners and builders
Linked to King René, welcomed Marguerite.
Origin and history
The Manor House of La Vignolle is a semi-troglodytic building located in Souzay-Champigny, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire. Built in the 15th century, it is backed by the Loire cliff, thus exploiting the geological peculiarities of the site. According to tradition, it was built and owned by the family of Vignolles (or La Vignolle), which served King René of Anjou, of which he was one of the mansions.
In 1480, after the death of King René at Aix-en-Provence, Marguerite d'Anjou, his daughter and former queen of England, was welcomed by this family. Although doubts remain about his prolonged presence in this mansion, this hypothesis is raised to explain the gratitude of Vignolles to King René. However, there is no record that Marguerite spent her last days there, and her will of 1482 does not mention this place.
The mansion was represented in a drawing published in 1863 in the English magazine Once a Week, illustrating an article about Marguerite d'Anjou. An error in the legend attributed this drawing to the "Château de Dampierre". Ranked a historic monument on June 29, 1990, the mansion remains today a private property, preserving its historic character and unique architecture.
The building combines built elements and troglodytic spaces, typical of medieval Ligerian dwellings. Its inscription in historical monuments covers both the manor and the troglodytic habitats below the adjacent plots (cadastre A 277, 299, 301).
