Fresnay-sur-Sarthe Castle

Fresnay-sur-Sarthe Castle, locally known as Château de Fresnay-sur-Sarthe or just Château de Fresnay, lies in the village of the same name in the Sarthe department in France.

Even though the village probably dates back to the 6th century, the castle of Fresnay-sur-Sarthe was erected around the 10th century on a rock next to the river Sarthe, overlooking a ford through the river. In the 11th century it was a property of the Viscounts of Beaumont, then vassals of the Counts of Maine. They used the strategic castle to protect their domains against Norman incursions and also fortified the little town with walls and gates.

The castle was probably rebuilt during the 13th and 14th century, as most of what remains today, dates back to those times.

During the Hundred Years' War the castle was occupied by the English between 1420 and 1450. In the following French Wars of Religion the town's defenses and the castle gradually fell to ruin because it had lost its military function. Fresnay-sur-Sarthe Castle was then however still a possession of the French Crown.

By the late-17th century all that was left of the castle was its gate house, a salt house, the bases of the curtain walls and a ruined keep. It was then donated by Louis XIV of France to the town to serve as a prison and court.

At present the grounds of Fresnay-sur-Sarthe Castle are a nice public park and it is freely accessible. The salt house is now a small local museum. A charming small castle.

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