HISTORY
Discover the incredible story of the most romantic of castles.
From the medieval castle to the neo-Gothic architectural follies, fill up with stories and anecdotes about the 19th century and the families that shaped this masterpiece.
AN INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE
A castle saved by thousands of people around the world
Located in the most famous valley in FranceThe Château de la Mothe Chandeniers is a singular, mysterious and romantic masterpiece. Throughout its history, it has known sumptuous glory, neglect, daring reconstruction, dramatic fire and astonishing survival.
Discover his incredible odyssey from glory to ruin, and from ruin to today's human adventure.
An adventure seen on
FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
A fundraising campaign that went around the world
The adventure was launched in October 2017 par Dartagnans, la start-up leader du financement innovant dédiée à la préservation et au développement économique du patrimoine culturel, with the support of the non-profit organization Adopt a Castle.
The idea is simple: save an endangered heritage and become a lord for 50 euros.. Thanks to the crowdfunding platform, Dartagnans and its many donors, the Château de la Mothe Chandeniers was bought out by 27,910 enthusiasts from 115 countries different all over the world.
Crédit photo : ©Séba Care De Dole
2090576€
Pledged
27910
Donators
115
Countries
HISTORY
13th to 15th century: The evolution of its appellation
First mention of the castle in the name of the Motte-Bauçay, medieval fortress, owned by the Bauçay family. 1404: Marriage between Marie de Bauçay and Guillaume II de Chaunay, lord of Champdenier. New name of Mothe Champdenier at the castle. 1420 : Passage of the estate to the De Rochechouart family by the marriage of Anne de Chaunay and Jean de Rochechouart.
HISTORY
16th century to 18th century: Between wealth and abandonment
Part 1
1530 : The state of the castle is decrepit.. The building would still have retained its aspect of a medieval fortress. An inventory mentions different towers: an old destroyed tower, a round or high tower, the panelled tower, the vaulted tower, the new tower and another non-designated tower. The present towers seem to have preserved the foundations of these old towers.
HISTORY
16th century to 18th century: Between wealth and abandonment
Part 2
Having taken part in the rebellion, the marquis François II de Rochechouart-Chandenier falls into disgrace with the king who exile him from the court to the country of LoudunIn the Anjou region He settled in 1654 at the Mothe Chandenier....then in a decrepit state, and transforms the estate into a rich mansion surrounded by gardens and parks. However, he could not maintain this lifestyle and ended up abandoning the estate to his creditors.
HISTORY
16th century to 18th century: Between wealth and abandonment
Part 3
The castle will then pass by inheritance to Nicolas' son, Guillaume Urbain de Lamoignon, Count of Courson. One of the daughters of the latter, Anne-Victoire de Lamoignon, married René Charles de Maupéou (1688-1775), vice-chancellor and keeper of the seals of France, and the castle passed into his possession in 1766. While the castle was in the possession of these last two families... (of Lamoignon and Maupéou), the castle was hardly inhabited and maintained, and it will fall into ruin.. A description of the state of the castle, carried out in 1790 by the notary Périot, testified to the state of dilapidation and degradation of all the buildings.
HISTORY
XIXème siècle : la naissance du château néogothique
After several successions, the castle is abandoned and becomes a ruin. François Hennecart, riche entrepreneur parisien, then buys the castle en 1809 et entreprend une campagne de restauration with the aim of restoring the castle to the splendid state it was in at the time. of François de Rochechouart.
His successors , Baron Edgard Lejeune and his wife Marie Ardouin, undertook in their turn around 1870 a massive reconstruction in the neo-gothic style and the romantic movement . The architect in charge, whose identity remains unknown to this day, takes his inspiration from the Loire castles for the works.
HISTORY
20th century: The dramatic fire
March 13, 1932: the fire at the Castle. One Sunday, when Baron Robert Lejeune had just had central heating installed, a violent fire broke out and ravaged the premises. Bought back later in lots, it will end up being abandoned for 85 years, and nature will take back its rights on each part.
HISTORY
21st century: The rebirth of the estate
On October 6, 2017, the start-up Dartagnans and the association Adopte un château launched the crazy idea of collectively buying the castle of La Mothe Chandeniers in order to save it and propose a new model to preserve the heritage. <A few months later and after having toured the world, the castle of La Mothe Chandeniers seduced tens of thousands of enthusiasts.
Women and men from 115 countries, of all ages and cultures are today the guardians of this absolute romantic castle. This is the largest fundraising campaign ever for a heritage project.
FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
The collective purchase concept
To collectively buy a castle is synonym of bringing together thousands of enthusiasts from all over the world around a common dream: to preserve and save our local heritage. It is also about getting them out of their torpor and give them a new life, through the development of a durable economic activity. It is an exceptional human adventure where a multitude of individuals, from all age, nationality or culture, become part of an international project.
DOWNLOAD
Walk through the castle of La Mothe Chandeniers as if you were there!
Discover the entire tour of the Château de la Mothe Chandeniers directly at home! And prepare your next visit by discovering all the visits you can make with family and friends at La Mothe Chandeniers.
From the medieval castle to the neo-Gothic architectural follies, fill up with stories and anecdotes about the 19th century and the families that shaped this masterpiece.