Château de Bourgon: A Historic 15th-Century Castle in Montourtier, France

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.chateaudebourgon.com

Country: France

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

The Château de Bourgon is situated in the commune of Montourtier in modern-day France. This stone castle was constructed during the 15th century by local feudal authorities as part of the medieval defensive network in the region.

The earliest recorded ownership dates to 1406 when Jean de Montecler acquired the castle. His descendants maintained control of the property until the late 16th century, specifically 1577. During the 17th century, the castle’s lands and lordship were subject to the influence and suzerainty of several regional powers. These included the Count of Laval, the Duke of Mayenne, the Lord of La Bechère, and monks from the nearby Abbey of Fontaine-Daniel. This complex feudal structure reflected the intertwined secular and ecclesiastical governance common in the era.

In 1663, Madeleine de Souvré, widow of the Marquis de Sablé, formally acknowledged in a feudal act her vassalage to Henri I de La Trémoille, Count of Laval. This document confirmed the château’s ties to the Laval county and its lordship. The 17th century also saw the castle come under the ownership of the Montmorency family, a prominent noble house. Following the death of the Marquis de Sablé’s grandsons, the estate passed to Anne de Souvré, Marquise de Louvois, and later to her grandson Louis-François Anne de Neufville-Villeroy, the Duke of Villeroy and Retz, in 1715.

Remarkably, over the course of six centuries, the château changed hands only twice, with the most recent sale occurring in 2004 to private owners from northern France. Its continued possession by established noble families highlights the castle’s enduring place in regional history.

Remains

The Château de Bourgon is a stone-built complex centered around its 15th-century origins. The core of the structure comprises the main hall and a stone staircase that date back to its initial construction phase. These foundational elements set the architectural character of the castle and have been preserved through centuries. A small salon within the castle is believed to be part of the earliest sections, providing an intimate glimpse into the medieval residential spaces.

Later expansions introduced multiple rooms that showcase notable 18th-century woodwork, reflecting evolving interior tastes across the centuries. Within the castle’s interior, a library contains books several centuries old, complementing an archive room that safeguards documents spanning more than 600 years. This archive presents a continuous documentary record of the château’s history and its various owners.

A distinctive chamber known as the “blue cabinet” is associated with the Marquise de Sablé, the wife of Urbain de Montmorency-Laval, embodying personal elements of the noble family’s residential life. The château also includes a chapel constructed in 1528, underscoring the religious dimensions of the estate.

The castle is approached by a fixed stone bridge which crosses what was once a moat. Although the moat itself has dried up, the bridge remains intact and contributes to the historic character of the site. Collectively, the preserved main hall, staircase, chapel, and bridge form an ensemble that conveys the Château de Bourgon’s architectural evolution and ongoing conservation. Restoration efforts during the early 21st century have worked to maintain these features under expert supervision, ensuring their structural stability and heritage value.