Château de la Turmelière (ancien)
CastleHidden Treasure
Château de la Turmelière (ancien), located in Liré (Maine-et-Loire), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Castle
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Liré, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.3347, -1.1844
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00109152
The birthplace of Joachim du Bellay, this 16th-17th century manor house stands guard over the banks of the Loire in Anjou, combining Renaissance elegance and classical sobriety in a setting of hedged farmland.
History
Standing on the wooded heights overlooking the Loire between Ancenis and Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, the former Château de la Turmelière epitomises the discreet grandeur of Anjou's Renaissance nobility. Far from the glittering splendour of the most famous Loire châteaux, this seigniorial dwelling boasts a measured, intimate style of architecture, where the pale tufa stone meets the greenery of the bocage to create a picture of rare poetry. What makes La Turmelière truly unique is less its architecture - sober but refined - than the literary memory that permeates it. Joachim du Bellay, one of the greatest French poets of the Renaissance, was born here around 1522. His birthplace, its fields, its vineyards, its special light on the royal river, nurtured the imagination of a man who, from Rome, would one day mourn his Anjou "delights" in the immortal verses of Les Regrets. To visit La Turmelière is to follow in the footsteps of a genius of French literature. It's a unique experience: the monument, listed as a Historic Monument since 1941, can be discovered in an unspoilt setting, away from the mass tourist circuits. The attentive visitor will notice the architectural transition between the still medieval grace of the first foundations and the more classical volumes added in the 17th century, reflecting a residence that has been redesigned over generations and family fortunes. The natural setting enhances the charm of the place. The Muscadet vineyards stretch out below, and the hillsides of Liré offer sumptuous views of the Loire, the river that du Bellay sang was "sweeter" than the haughty Tiber. Autumn and spring reveal their most beautiful hues here, enveloping the old stones in a soft, ever-changing light that is sure to move photographers and heritage lovers alike.
Architecture
The architecture of the former Château de la Turmelière is a composite whole, the result of two centuries of construction and successive alterations. The main building, constructed in the 16th century, is typical of the style of the noble homes of Anjou in the early Renaissance period, with an elevation of blond tufa stone, the region's stone par excellence, which is easy to carve and bathed in light. It is laid out in two or three storeys under a slate roof with a slight broken slope, typical of the Loire Valley. The original mullioned windows, some of which are still visible, bear witness to the sober elegance of this first building campaign. The 17th-century alterations introduced elements of the classical style, softening some of the window surrounds and harmonising the main façades, perhaps by adding an avant-corps or a slightly protruding central bay highlighted by a pediment. The ensemble forms a modest but coherent dwelling, flanked at either end by pavilions or round towers inherited from the late medieval tradition, giving the building a picturesque silhouette characteristic of the manor houses of the Loire region of Anjou. The site is carefully positioned on a natural promontory, allowing the farm outbuildings to be arranged below and providing open views of the river and vineyards. Dry ditches or landscaped terraces probably structured the immediate surroundings of the dwelling, as was common practice in Anjou noble residences of the period.
Related Figures
Joachim du Bellay (v. 1522-1560) — poète de la Pléiade, natif présumé de la Turmelière, auteur des RegretsJean du Bellay (cardinal, 1492-1560) — cousin du poète, diplomate et prélat qui l'introduisit à RomeGuillaume du Bellay (1491-1543) — seigneur de Langey, frère du cardinal, figure militaire de François IerJean du Bellay (père du poète) — seigneur de la Turmelière, qui fit construire ou agrandir le logis au début du XVIe siècleRené du Bellay — évêque du Mans, membre de la famille du Bellay ayant contribué au rayonnement du nom
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Château de la Turmelière (ancien) located?
Château de la Turmelière (ancien) is located in Liré, Maine-et-Loire department, Pays de la Loire region, France.
When was Château de la Turmelière (ancien) built?
Château de la Turmelière (ancien) dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Château de la Turmelière (ancien) open to visitors?
Château de la Turmelière (ancien) is currently closed to visitors.