On the road warrior team we set out again for the region of Pays de la Loire and the dept 49 of Maine-et-Loire to visit Montreuil-Bellay! Just to show you, we have castles to create a new country lol! Old France never died it just faded away a bit but still plenty of stones around!!! We really enjoy the visit here and need to update this older post with new text and links on the Château de Montreuil-Bellay !! Hope you enjoy it as we did.
Montreuil-Bellay is located in the heart of the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Natural Park, less than 25 km from Saumur (Maine-et-Loire), Thouars (Deux-Sèvres) and Loudun (Vienne). The rule in the castle was no pictures just certain areas only, so be it, its still worth the detour me think. The displacement of the administrative center in Saumur, during the French revolution, completed to reduce the commercial, economic and administrative importance of the city of Montreuil-Bellay, simple chief town of canton since 1790.
The Château de Montreuil-Bellay is a vast medieval castle, several times remodeled and standing in the heart of the old close town of Montreuil-Bellay. It is the Duke of Anjou Foulque Nerra who built the first citadel on a Roman oppidum in about 1026. He entrusted custody to his vassal Giraud Berlay, now Giraud Bellay, and the city takes the name of Montreuil-Bellay. The attachment of the Berlay family to the crown of France leads King Philippe Auguste in 1208 and King Louis VIII in 1224 to hold their court at the Château de Montreuil-Bellay. The Donjon from the 15C is no longer visible as the new castle was built in its place. It was 30 meters high , it was demolished in 1865.
The castle of Montreuil-Bellay goes to the family of the House of Melun and the House of Tancarville during the Hundred Years War. Subsequently, it is enlarged with the addition of several towers and an enclosure, 650 meters of defense and 13 defense towers, protect the castle, with an entrance to the fortified building, flanked by round towers and massive barbican and drawbridge. During the 15C, the Renaissance period allows the castle to be modernized and airy, new buildings, new rooms, new kitchen (the term barbe au cul was when animals were roasted entirely in the huge kitchen and the term barbecue comes from it ! ), dining room, large living room, small living room, bedroom, monumental staircase and construction of a chapel of Notre Dame. This later will be hand over to the State and the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame is now open to all as a parish church (see post). Then the castle belongs to the House of Harcourt. During the French revolution, the Lord of Montreuil-Bellay, Jean-Bretagne de La Trémoille, remains faithful to King Louis XVI. His castle is requisitioned and transformed into a prison for royalist women. After the revolutionary period, the castle becomes by marriage the property of the Grandmaison family, some of whose members were mayors of the city or senator. The Grandmaison’s are still living in the castle. The castle of Montreuil-Bellay is remodeled in the 11C, 13C, 14C and 17C.
The official Château de Montreuil-Bellay : https://en.chateau-de-montreuil-bellay.fr/
The Saumur tourist office on Montreuil-Bellay : https://www.ot-saumur.fr/MONTREUIL-BELLAY_a14817.html
The city of Montreuil-Bellay on its history/heritage: https://www.ville-montreuil-bellay.com/tourisme/histoire-et-patrimoine/
There you go folks, is a beautiful castle and great wine tasting and purchase at the end to finish a wonderful day. Do come to the Château de Montreuil-Bellay you will be glad you did.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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