The story of Briottières began in the early days of the 15th century when the land was owned by the family de Mergot. Prior to 1485 it came into the possession of Jean de la Saussaie through his marriage to Jeanne de Mergot and it was then purchased in 1519 by Réne de Baif, husband of Catherine de Champchevrier, who in 1528 built the chapel de Sainte-Bonaventure.
The land at this time comprised of five farms and two estates and included the fiefdom of La Chapelle. The nobles succeeded one after the other – Réne de Baif until 1546, Maurice Chevallerie in 1560 and finally in 1574, Guillaume Lesrat who was Lieutenant-General du Sénéchal d'Anjou and whose family held the land until the revolution. René de Lesrat died 6 Feb 1701 at the age of 80 years and was succeded by his son, Clémént-Francois de Lesrat who died on 21 Nov 1740.
On the 29 December 1722 his daughter married Alexis de Rougé, Seigneur des Rues and on the 29 November 1786 the Curé blessed the rebuilt chapel. The château was now constructed in 2 parts with a central link and has remained as such since. In 1855 it was still the property of the family d'Armaillé who had a superb collection of pictures including a portrait of Roi René d'Anjou dated 1460.
In the middle of the 19th century the château was acquired by Mr Alfred de Mieulle. Born in 1804 he married Marie-Louise Hochet and died in1900. He was the great-great grandfather of Madame Jaques de Valbray, mother of Francois de Valbray the current owner. |
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Royal Abbey of Fontevraud
The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud welcomes you in a 900 years old set where many French kings and queens rest in peace.
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