The château des Carmes of La Fléche !!!

Posted in Europe, France

I was on my by now monthly road warrior trails of my belle France, I was out with my boys and my good dog Rex riding into the wonderful regions near me. This even if passed by before, is my first time in the town of La Fléche, full of architecture and history monuments.The town of La Flèche is located in the Sarthe department 72 in the Pays de la Loire region of my belle France , Therefore, here is my take on the château des Carmes of La Fléche !!!  Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The château des Carmes was the first castle in La Flèche: located in the middle of the Loir river, it was simply a keep with a drawbridge that controlled the passage of boats on the river. From this period, only a gable of the drawbridge remains, on the right wing of the castle, representing about a third of the building. During the Hundred Years’ War, the castle was besieged and burned several times by the English. In 1537, this castle belonged to the grandmother of Henry IV, but as it was no longer habitable and she wished to retire to La Flèche, she had another castle built: the Château Neuf, which would become the Jesuit College and later the National Military Prytanée.(see post).

In 1620, the castle was donated by Louis XIII, son of Henry IV, to the Carmelite Fathers with the mission of rebuilding it from its ruins. They remained there until the French revolution, when the estate was put up for sale as national property. The purchaser was a merchant from Fougeré, François-René Bertron. For 112 years, the château remained in the same family and became a beautiful residence with a park. In 1880, the two neoclassical turrets on the river side were added. In 1909, the town bought the château to establish the City/town hall. Unfortunately, a fire again partially destroyed the Château des Carmes in 1919. Rebuilt in 1928, Since 1994, when the new City/town hall buildings were built, the castle has been partly used for various receptions and events; it contains the wedding hall of the town of La Flèche, but also two temporary exhibition rooms.

The town of La Fléche on its heritage : https://www.ville-lafleche.fr/loisirs/tourisme/patrimoine/

The town of La Fléche on its history: https://www.ville-lafleche.fr/la-ville/lhistoire/

The local Loir Valley tourist office on La Fléche : https://www.loir-valley.com/things-to-see-to-do/sites-to-visit/

There you go folks , a nice quant town worth a detour me think. The area is wonderfully located to visit other wonders of my belle France, Again ,hope you enjoy this post on the château des Carmes of La Fléche !!!  as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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