Château de Clermont

The Clermont lock is a built 1643-1649 castle in the commune of Le Cellier in the French department of Loire- Atlantique. Owners of the castle were the family de Maupassant and later the actor Louis de Funès. The facility is registered since 19 November 1941 as a monument historique in the French monument list.

Architecture

The castle looks primarily related to As in the days of its construction. On its south side there is a view on the Loire River and the landscapes Mauges and Pays de Retz. The castle is surrounded by a three -acre park and a 17- acre vineyard. Louis de Funès had planted a rose garden, but which is no longer maintained.

The Clermont lock has three essential features of the architectural style of the time of Louis XIII. on:

• Soft -looking forms by the use of pink bricks and masonry
• The main building has several separate slate roofs
• The middle part of the building dominates the construction and includes the main staircase

History

The de Funès family had a part of the castle by an aunt, a Countess of Maupassant, inherited and bought fully later. It was built by the family Chenu de Clermont, a family of high-ranking military official. René Chenu (1599-1672) was a long time governor of the cities Oudon and Champtoceaux. His son Hardy Chenu (1621-1683) was responsible for the fortifications, towns, castles and fortified towns of Brittany.

The Chenus were vassals of the house of Condé, who had many possessions in western France. René Chenu was a contemporary and loyal ally of Henri II de Bourbon, prince de Condé. It is recorded that one of the Chenu, either father or son, their Lord in the battle is said to have saved his life. From credit for the Clermont castle to have been built. In any case, witness the impressive dimensions of the system of the princely expenditure that was necessary for its construction. The castle was built shortly after the Battle of Rocroi, in Henri's son, Louis secured the throne of Louis XIV and thus earned a considerable reward.