Château de Terre-Neuve

Fontenay-le-Comte, France

The Castle of Terre Neuve in Fontenay-le-Comte, Vendée, France, is a historic château dating back to the 1580s and 1590s. It has been designated as an official historical monument by the French Ministry of Culture since 1978. The castle was originally built for Nicolas Rapin, a prominent figure known for his military career, poetry, and legal expertise. Over the years, the castle changed ownership, including a period when it was occupied by Vincentian priests during the French Revolution.

In the 19th century, Octave de Rochebrune, a notable owner of the castle, made significant contributions to its preservation and enriched its cultural heritage. He was not only a skilled engraver but also a mayor of Fontenay-le-Comte. Rochebrune's efforts included collecting architectural elements and furniture from various sources, such as the castle of Coulonges-sur-l'Autize and Château de Chambord, which were integrated into the Castle of Terre Neuve. His dedication to preserving heritage and his artistic contributions left a lasting impact on the castle.

In summary, the Castle of Terre Neuve is a historically significant château in Fontenay-le-Comte, with a rich history of ownership and cultural preservation efforts, particularly during Octave de Rochebrune's time.

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Details

Founded: 1580-1590
Category: Castles and fortifications in France

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Asthma Labor (4 months ago)
What an odd place. Funk the outside, it's enchanting. There weren't English tours when we were there and so we paid 5.5 euros for the museum. Well, it wasn't worth it. Lots of souvenirs and collectables but nothing really fantastic to see. Maybe the tour is better.
Alice Overfield (6 months ago)
On the disappointing side. Unclear signs on entry and car parking. Then a detour to get to the chateau, as they were dismantling a stage and seating area from a performance that had taken place, no clear directions in the chaos. Then we were approached and asked why had we not waited for an escort...no sign to say we had to??when we eventually got to the chateau entrance we were told that if any french people turn up then the tour will be done in french only, we would have a guidebook to read. 4 of us on the tour two were french so we had a guidebook to read. The guide spoke English so why with such a.small could she not do the tour in both french and English. No gardens and no nice picnic area..sat in the car park
George Nott (11 months ago)
Château Terre Neuve to give the Chateau its correct name was magnificent! We joined a guided tour (in French) but were given an English paper guide.
David Lewis (15 months ago)
While I'm not a chateau expert this one seems good. You have to take the tour as it is properly lived in by the owners. Our tour was completely in French but the guide spoke a bit of English and said he would do his best to answer questions in English. There was a book in English saying much the same as the guide but you miss the jokes not speaking French.
Dawid Hdez (15 months ago)
Beautiful family castle in a dream environment. Owners have been rescuing pieces of art from dying places. Alexander, a very kind guide, walked the extra mile giving a bilingual tour so some of us could understand. He did a great job. It worths the visit.
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