Château de Matval

Château de Matval is a 13th-15th century castle in the commune of Bonneveau. The Merovingian castrum, named Matoval, was destroyed by the Normans in the 10th century. In 1459, the fiefdom was given to Jean, an illegitimate son of Louis, Count of Vendôme. The present castle was built by the powerful counts of Bourbon Vendôme, ancestors of King Henri IV to whom the castle later belonged.

Under Louis XIV, the Marquis de Louvois, his famous Minister of War, made it his home, followed by a succession of notable people including Napoleon II.

Matval is equally renowned as the origin of the rennet apple variety, reinettes du Mans. In effect, Childebert I, having brought grafts of apple trees from Spain, planted them himself in his park, creating what became the most famous apple in France.

Architecture

The castle's vestiges testify to an architecture specific to the military buildings of their time. The south-eastern corner of the house is a wall pierced by arrowslits, remains of a construction provided with arrowslits and a bretèche, which connected the building to a round tower.

Underground galleries run under the hill and the castle.

The Merovingian mint is a reminder that the domain was royal and that coins were minted here. The statuette by the entrance is a jewel of the Merovingian age and unique in Europe.

Address
Rue Louis Proust 1, Bonneveau, France

Established
13th century