PARC DU CHÂTEAU DU VERGER

Open to the public from August 16 to September 30, every day except Sunday, from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. (beautiful western lights at the end of the day) Self-guided tour with printed documents on the history of the château and the major events with which it has been associated. It was in the Maison Forte du Verger, owned by Pierre de Rohan Guéméné, Marshal of France, known as "le Maréchal de Gié", that the Traité du Verger was negotiated, which put an end to the war between Brittany and France in 1488, and led to the marriage of Anne de Bretagne to King Charles VIII of France in 1491. Between 1492 and 1506, the Maréchal de Gié had one of the finest castles built at the end of the 15th century built on this site. But less than three hundred years later, between 1776 and 1783, Cardinal de Rohan demolished most of the château, which had suffered from lack of maintenance, and sold all the materials recovered. However, part of the entrance châtelet and the two forecourt buildings, each flanked by a powerful defensive tower, were spared and remain visible today from the road. Also remaining are the gigantic water moats that encircled the whole complex, and the foundations of the four corner towers of the former château. The whole complex is listed as a Monument Historique. The tour follows the outer perimeter of the moat, allowing visitors to appreciate the facades of the two buildings and the scale of the original structure, the remains of which can still be seen. Visitors can also stroll through a section of the park currently being restored, firstly through a small wood close to the north side of the old château, and secondly along the south side of a large grassy driveway, 800 metres long from the château entrance on the road, which leads directly to the banks of the Loir for a pleasant stroll. Other interesting walks can be found in the nearby Forêt de Boudré. Self-guided tour of the exterior of the buildings, with documents on the history and architecture of the château, and its evolution to the present day.