In the heart of the Coëvrons-Mayenne region, a land of art and history, the Château de Sainte-Suzanne is one of the most beautiful tourist sites in the department Built on a rocky spur from the 1020s onwardsIt was built by the Beaumont family, a dynasty of local lords. A fortress designed to be a place of defense in case of enemy attacks, the entrance was then on the first floor; the lords and their visitors had to enter by a ladder or a wooden staircase installed for the occasion.
In 1083, The famous William the Conqueror organizes a siege before the coveted Château de Sainte-Suzanne, valiantly defended by the Viscount of Maine, Hubert II de Beaumont. According to a chronicler of the time, the powerful Duke of Normandy failed to besiege Sainte-Suzanne, which is "Inaccessible due to the rocks and the thick vines that surround it on all sides." In 1086, the two enemies finally concluded a peace which marked one of the Conqueror's rare defeats; Sainte-Suzanne thus proudly entered the annals of our history books.
Although the original keep, the setting for these events, is no longer accessible for safety reasons, 21st-century visitors can discover the dwelling built in the 17th century according to the wishes of Guillaume Fouquet de la Varenne, Baron of Sainte-Suzanne, Comptroller General of the Post Office and a close friend of Henry IV. On September 16, 1604, this statesman purchased the old fortress, then in ruins, from Queen Margot, the King's first wife. He decided to transform the old castle into a pleasure residence, but the King's assassination in 1610, which led to the downfall of his inner circle, brought this project to a halt; however, this beautiful main building, constructed on four levels, remains from that period and now houses an Architecture and Heritage Interpretation Centre. a place to promote the historical riches of Mayenne.
Spared from the turmoil of the Revolution, the The Château de Sainte-Suzanne was donated to the municipality by its owner, Arnaud de Vitry, in 1980. provided that it is used for cultural purposes. Consequently, part of the ramparts is restored and the stables are rebuilt to be transformed into an exhibition space.
Since 1998, the site has belonged to the Mayenne department.Thanks to various multimedia devices, you can discover the history of the castle, the inhabitants of Sainte-Suzanne and learn about the conditions of the defeat of William the Conqueror, a great local pride of this beautiful medieval city for almost 1,000 years!
- Continue your exploration of the Loire Valley with the circuit The most beautiful castles around Le Mans and Laval which includes the castle of Sainte-Suzanne.
