Beaufort-en-Vallée Castle

Beaufort-en-Vallée Castle, locally known as Château de Beaufort-en-Vallée, lies in the small town of the same name in the Maine-et-Loire department in France.

The site of the castle, a limestone mound overlooking the Authion valley, was first used as a Gallo-Roman oppidum.

Beaufort-en-Vallée Castle was first built in the 11th century by the Count of Anjou; Fulk III the Black. This castle was destroyed around 1213 by Louis VIII of France, but rebuilt afterward. In 1346 the castle was acquired by a noble from the Limousin; Guillaume Roger. Roger then rebuilt the castle during the next 10 years. Roger became the first lord of Beaufort and was the brother of Pope Clement VI and the father of Pope Gregory XI.

The castle was at the heart of the village that grew up around it and which was defended by town walls. During the Hundred Years' War it was occupied by the English for some time. After the war it lost its military purpose. In the mid-15th century Beaufort-en-Vallée Castle was acquired by René, Duke of Anjou. He had the castle substantially refurbished to turn it into a more comfortable residence. He then stayed here frequently, together with his wife Jeanne de Laval.

During the French Wars of Religion, in the 2nd half of the 16th century, the castle suffered damages. By the beginning of the 17th century the castle was still garrisoned but in a dilapidated state. Later that century it was dismantled and became a stone quarry to strengthen the town ramparts and to build a convent.

The castle ruin was sold as National Property during the French Revolution, at the end of the 18th century. It was finally bought by the town in 1832.

Beaufort-en-Vallée Castle is said to be freely accessible but the gates were closed when I came by, sadly enough. A very nice castle ruin in a sleepy town.

Gallery