Château de Glénay

Glénay, France

Château de Glénay, with its origins in the 12th century, began as a fortified house overseeing the Thouaret River. Over time, it transformed into a castle, witnessing various modifications and restorations, particularly after the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion. Occupied by notable families, including the Vignerot de Pontcourlays, who later became Dukes of Richelieu, the castle saw visits from historical figures like Cardinal de Richelieu and Henri de La Trémoille.

Post the 17th century, ownership changed hands, leading to periods of neglect and repurposing. After the French Revolution, the castle became an agricultural estate, and the once-grand residence succumbed to nature. However, it gained historical recognition and protection in the 20th century, ensuring its preservation.

Currently a private estate, the Château de Glénay is undergoing a meticulous restoration project since 2021, focusing on restoring its original features. The efforts aim to revive the castle's historical charm, showcasing its architectural and cultural significance.

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Nelly Clochard (2 months ago)
Heritage day visit, castle undergoing renovation. Interesting to see the evolution.
Grégory Vouhé (3 months ago)
Interesting mid-15th century castle currently being restored by local companies, with a pretty adjoining stately chapel, in a preserved natural site. Bravo to the owners who are investing in saving a building built in the 1450s, which had been nothing more than an open ruin for two and a half centuries. The exterior of the castle is particularly visible during Heritage Days and during concerts and other events, pending the restoration of the interior with the upcoming replacement of the missing steps of the spiral staircase which serves the floors .
Jean-François PAGE (7 months ago)
Beautiful renovation in progress. Very beautiful work of framing and roofing.
Frédéric RENAUD (14 months ago)
For heritage days very interesting the restoration presentation by the owners I recommend very friendly
Christine Mathieu (2 years ago)
Beautiful castle undergoing renovation. Bucolic setting. Private but can be discovered from the road.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Abbey of Saint-Georges

Saint-Georges de Boscherville Abbey is a former Benedictine abbey. It was founded in about 1113 by Guillaume de Tancarville on the site of an earlier establishment of secular canons and settled by monks from the Abbey of Saint-Evroul. The abbey church made of Caumont stone was erected from 1113 to 1140. The Norman builders aimed to have very well-lit naves and they did this by means of tall, large windows, initially made possible by a wooden ceiling, which prevented uplift, although this was replaced by a Gothic vault in the 13th century. The chapter room was built after the abbey church and dates from the last quarter of the 12th century.

The arrival of the Maurist monks in 1659, after the disasters of the Wars of Religion, helped to get the abbey back on a firmer spiritual, architectural and economic footing. They erected a large monastic building one wing of which fitted tightly around the chapter house (which was otherwise left as it was).