Montgeoffroy Castle
The Montgeoffroy Castle is located near the French town of Mazé in the Maine-et-Loire department . Thanks to family protection , the building and the original interior have survived the French Revolution and the ensuing turmoil without damage. This gives the visitor an authentic impression of the nobility's way of life in a country palace at the end of the 18th century.
history
Louis-Georges-Erasme de Contades was the field marshal and governor of Alsace before retiring from active service at the age of 68. In 1772, according to the plans of the Parisian architect Jean Benoît Vincent Barré , he began building his retirement home on the originally medieval country estate near Mazé, which his ancestors had acquired in 1676. The chapel and two round towers that border the farm buildings were taken over from the previous castle from the 16th century.
The construction work, which lasted until 1776, was supervised by the marshal's eldest son, who continuously recorded its progress. It is still possible today to understand where the building material came from and how it was transported. Most of the work was done by local craftsmen, and local farmers helped with the transport.
architecture
The early classical main building is two and a half storeys high and has a central risalit , the triangular gable of which shows the coat of arms of the Contades as the only plastic ornament on the whole castle . Two short side wings protrude, and two set-back low pavilions ensure the connection of the main building with the stables, coach houses and the chapel at the side of the courtyard.
The chapel of the previous building was built in 1543 for Guillaume de La Grandière. A stained glass window from the period depicts the adoration of Christ, crowned by God the Father. A collection of old carriages and traveling wagons can be seen in the stable building on the other side of the courtyard. In the round tower there is a luxurious saddle room clad with fir wood.
The property opens up towards the associated lands. Two flat-roofed pavilions and a magnificent lattice gate, connected by walls, demarcate the castle district from the fields. Three avenues formerly leading to the castle were aligned radially.
interior
The estate is still inhabited by the de Contades family. The living rooms are on the ground floor. The main suite with a large lounge is on the south side, the courtyard side. The suite of rooms for the ladies of the house, adjoining a large oval dining room, is on the park side. The current furnishings of the rooms, i.e. the fireplace, the fireplace, the wall sconces, the gold-bronze lanterns, the various seating furniture, the console tables, pendulum clocks and barometers on the wall are already listed in the inventory from 1775.
literature
- Wilfried Hansmann : The Loire Valley. Castles, churches and cities in the «Garden of France» . 2nd Edition. DuMont Reiseverlag, Ostfildern 2006, ISBN 3-7701-6614-0 , p. 218-221 .
- Dominique Letellier: Le château de Montgeoffroy. Architecture et mode de vie . Société des Etudes Angevines, Angers 1991, ISBN 2-905570-01-6 .
Web links
Coordinates: 47 ° 28 '8.4 " N , 0 ° 16" 35.1 " W.