Located in the Sarthe region, the first dungeon of Ballon is built by Count William I of Bellême in 1005Attempting to expand their territory, the Normans initially faced this formidable obstacle, but William the Conqueror managed to seize it in 1064. Considered impregnable, the The fortress changed hands 25 times during the 11th century. Allied with the English, the Chaource family finally managed the feat of holding it for nearly 300 years, starting in the 12th century. When King Philip Augustus of France succeeded in retaking it from his enemy John Lackland, he ordered its dismantling. However, its strategic importance was such that he immediately decided to rebuild it.
Left to the mercy of brigands during the Hundred Years' War, the keep of Ballon was occupied by a certain Robert the Marshal. He terrorized the entire region; thefts and ransoms finally ceased with the arrival of the valiant Du Guesclin. Once again, the French and English fought over the fortress; it was ultimately conquered by the companions-in-arms of Joan of Arc.
In the 16th century, the land of Ballon was sold at auction. Jeanot d'Ynurse, a Burgundian squire, purchased it. Considerably diminished by the development of artillery, the fortress's importance gradually declined. It finally enjoyed a period of peace until a mob ferociously attacked its owners on July 21, 1789. Beheaded, their heads were paraded on pikes throughout the village. One of the murderers was the last Frenchman to be broken on the wheel.
Today the Visitors to the Ballon dungeon discover the turbulent history of a fortress at the heart of all the wars that have marked our history. One can see an impressive guardroom, a beautiful dining room, the room where King Henry IV stayed, and a room known as the "Philip Augustus Room" which occupies the entire surface of the building. Also, the keep is now surrounded by gardens created in the 1960s by Jean GuéroultClassified as "Remarkable Gardens", they feature several distinct areas: the linden tree avenue, the lion courtyard, the panoramic mound, the checkerboard, the rose garden and the medieval walled garden.
- Continue your exploration of the Loire Valley with the circuit The most beautiful castles around Le Mans and Laval which includes the keep and the gardens of Ballon.
