The chateau has lovely gardens overlooking the river and because of its lofty position it offers some great views. There is a good choice of restaurants by the chateau and the river. You will also find by the river "Promenade J. Tolkien" which has given rise to the stories untrue of Montreuil-Bellay once being a holiday home of the writer and the chateau and its surroundings being inspirational in forming some of his literal locations.
The town of Montreuil-Bellay retains almost all of its medieval walls, making it one of the last fortified towns of the Anjou region.
It is well worth a visit as it still retains its medieval feel. Its strategic location on the borders of Anjou , Touraine and Poitou allowed the town to grow and have an important regional administrative function subsequently transferred to Saumur before the French Revolution, this accounts for the number of fine houses in the town. Although the current Chateau de Montreuil-Bellay mostly dates from the 15th century, we can also see remnants of the fortified castle that stood here before, especially the ramparts and the underground parts of the chateau.
There are more than metres of ramparts and 13 towers in the defensive walls. As well as the castle buildings, there is a substantial collegiate church inside the ramparts of the castle. The castle was fortunate to remain occupied for much of its life, preventing the ruination and abandon that affected so many castles in France.
At the time of the Revolution the owner of the castle was a staunch royalist and the castle was taken over and used as a womens prison, before returning to private ownership in the early 19th century. The rooms of the castle are furnished with period furniture and as part of your visit you can also enjoy a walk around the gardens and the lovely views from the castle walls.
During a guided visit you see certain parts of the castle that are not open to visit exploring without a guide.
The Chateau at Montreuil-Bellay is also well known for the wine produced in the grounds and sold under the same name. During your visit you can also walk around the small historic centre of the village of Montreuil-Bellay. There are several important historic monuments that you can visit near the Chateau de Montreuil-Bellay, including the castle in Saumur and the abbey at Fontevraud. The first citadel was built during the eleventh century by Foulque Nerra, the Count of Anjou. It's situated on the foundations of a Roman oppidum.
Foulques Nerra called "the Black Falcon" was a tireless warrior, an insatiable builder and belongs to the narrow circle of the faithful of the King of France, Hughes Capet.
From his descendants was born the Plantagenet dynasty which reigns over England from to He maried Mathilde of England, daughter of Henri the 1st.
They are the parents of Henri the Second who married Alienor of Aquitaine. Foulques Nerra entrusts the citadel to his vassal Giraud Berlay. Montreuil-Bellay gains its reputation of impregnable place because of the struggles between the throne of Angletere and the crown of France.
One battle is particularly famous. During the 13th century, Montreuil-Bellay is a great place for hunting and falconry. Sumptuous festivals take place at the castle. During the 14th century begins the Hundred Years War. Hungry people take place in moats of the Castle and in neighboring monasteries, while the Lord of Montreuil-Bellay, William de Melun-Tancarville dies gloriously in at the Battle of Azincourt. She leads with her many admirers, including the Duke of La Rochefoucault and the Viscount of Turenne.
During the 17th century, the religious war burst forth. Catholics and Protestants come to supply with arms and ammunition at Montreuil-Bellay. The castle is requisitioned and transformed into a prison for monarchist women. They restored the castle and leave it in legacy at their nephew Georges de Grandmaison. Georges de Grandmaison, mayor of Montreuil-Bellay for 16 years and parliamentarian of the district of Saumur for nearly half a century, opens the castle to the wounded of the First World War.
Grandmaison, who was mayor of Montreuil-Bellay and deputy of the department of Maine-et-Loire, transformed his castle into a military hospital during WWI. The Music Room exhibits a bureau designed by Boulle and adorned with tortoise-shell and copper inlays, a technique the renowned cabinetmaker invented. The sacavin was a 2 or 3-liter barrel labourers used to transport their daily ration of wine, while working in the vineyards.
Department of Maine-et-Loire Coordinates: Lat
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