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Origin and history

The Château de la Rongere, mentioned in 1168 under the name of G. de Rongeria in the Cartular of Savigny Abbey, is a historical fief of the region. Located 2 km east of the village of La Croixille, in Mayenne, it rises on a tributary of Vilaine. Its modern architecture, with a body of rectangular houses flanked by turrets and a square pavilion, surrounds an inner courtyard. A long avenue and a park complete the whole, reflecting its seigneurial importance.

The castle is linked to the Couasnon family, established in La Croixille from the 16th century. This noble lineage, originally from Brittany, acquired the parish seigneury in 1633. Among his members, Pierre de Couasnon confirmed in 1668 his status as a shield for him and his brothers, including John, in the king's service. The family retained its land until the end of the 19th century, despite revolutionary upheavals.

During the French Revolution, the castle was the scene of searches on 26 March 1793, aimed at thwarting suspicious gatherings. François-Marie-Jérôme Couasnon de la Barillère, vicar general of Limoges and refractory priest, was arrested there in February 1794. Sentenced by the Revolutionary Military Commission of Mayenne, he was executed on 20 March 1794. His body, raised in 1814, has since rested in the Shrine of Charne.

The archives also mention notable architectural elements, such as the countercurve roofs of the pavilions and turrets, as well as outbuildings including a chapel, mill and pond, visible on the Cassini Map. The site remains a testimony of the seigneurial and religious dynamics of Mayenne, from the twelfth to the nineteenth centuries.

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