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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Monbouan Castle, built in 1771 by the Rennes architect Pierre-Joachim Besnard, is an example of Louis XV architecture in Brittany. It consists of a seven-span central house body, flanked by two pavilions (chapel to the east, library to the west), with a carved pediment. The roof, originally pierced by egg-eyes, was modified in the 19th century by skylights, then restored without putting them back in the 1970s. The entrance hall is decorated with paintings inspired by Boucher's cardboard, and a fireplace carries the weapons of Châteaurenault.

The estate spans 64.3 hectares, including a French-style park, moats, a pond, an orchard, and outbuildings (colombier, washhouse, gardener's house). Ranked a natural site in 1963 and a historic monument in 2000, it was historically owned by the Hay des Netumières family, which preserved it despite the Revolution. In the 19th century, architect Martenot redistributed the rooms and doubled the pavilions in depth. The castle then passed to watchmaker Richard Mille in the 21st century.

A manor house preceded the present castle, destroyed by fire. The estate belonged to the Barony of Vitré and had a right of high justice. The gardens, redesigned in the 19th century by Gillet, are enclosed with grids and walls surmounted by vases. The terraced green courtyard, with its dog niche, and the 18th century commons (excluding the 19th century additions) are protected. The farm of Petit Monbouan, built around 1910-1911, completes the whole.

Geoffroy des Netumières died there in 1907 during a hunting accident in the park. The family left the castle at the end of the 19th century for that of the Montagne in Visseiche. The protected elements include the house, moat, pond, orchard, and the fronts of the communes, gardener's house, dove and washhouse.

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