Bazouges Castle

Bazouges Castle - Château de Bazouges, Bazouges-sur-le-Loir, Sarthe, lands of the Loire, French Republic.

The medieval Château de Bazouges is located in the small town of Bazouges-sur-le-Loir, in the Sarthe department.
The fortification complex is situated along the banks of the Loir River. The castle is surrounded by a moat, which is crossed by a drawbridge. Its main gateway is flanked by two oval-shaped towers; one of these houses a 15th-century chapel, notable for the elegant vaulting in its prayer hall.
The Château de Bazouges was built in the 11th century to protect the borders of the County of Anjou against incursions by the bellicose lords of Maine and the House of Blois. Following its construction, it was placed under the stewardship of Le Fresch, the seneschal to the Count of Anjou. The castle later passed to Baudouin I de Champagne, a knight and chamberlain to King René the Good.
During the 15th century—the era of the Hundred Years' War—extensive fortification work was carried out to upgrade the castle’s defenses and protect the local townspeople; it was during this period that a deep, water-filled moat was excavated around the structure.
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Château de Bazouges changed hands frequently, and its architecture underwent various modifications. As the military threat diminished, the castle gradually took on the appearance of a country residence.
In 1910, the castle underwent a major renovation, initiated by its new owner, the poet and essayist A. Matouar. To this day, the castle remains in the possession of his descendants.