Château de Baugé (le château du roi René)

Baugé (Baugé-en-Anjou)

At Baugé, at the confluence of the Couasnon and the Altrée, Fulk III Nerra, count of Anjou, began a fortress in 1007 against the count of Blois. In 1436 Yolande of Aragon, mother of King René, had a château built within the place; it was burnt during the Hundred Years' War before the English took it (the official website and Wikipedia differ on who set it on fire). René of Anjou inherited the ruin in 1442. In 1454 he entrusted the architect Guillaume Robin with the construction of a new château, near a well-stocked hunting forest. It was habitable in 1462 and completed in 1465; René had gardens planted there and hunted there. He stayed there for the last time in 1471, before leaving for Aix-en-Provence. At his death in 1480 Louis XI attached Anjou to the Crown. The château passed to engagistes who maintained it little; in 1790 it was in a very dilapidated state. In 1806 the mounted gendarmerie moved in, and the west wing housed the town hall from 1838–1843 for nearly 150 years. A small theatre was fitted out in 1844. The town bought back the east part in 1901; an overall restoration began in 1960, and the museum circuit opened on 1 May 2003.

Getting there: In the heart of Baugé; visit and opening hours to be checked on the château's website. Coordinates: OpenStreetMap (Nominatim), consistent with the town of Baugé. Exact nature of the 1961 protection to be verified.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound