Château de Poncé

 Frankrike > Pays de la Loire > Sarthe > Loir en Vallée

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Built by the de Chambray family in the first half of the 16th century, this historical monument is a striking example of Italian influence on the French Renaissance. Built in 1542 (or thereabouts) on the site of a feudal castle from the 11th to 13th centuries, Ponce rarely changed hands. For more than 400 years, until 1895, it remained the property of the de Chambray family. The castle was purchased in 1895 by Count de Partz, who sold it in 1924 to Dr. Latron, who began its restoration. The labyrinth that decorated the hâteau de Poncé during the Renaissance has been preserved. The brick and stone neo-Gothic complex, more than 30 m high, was erected in 1830 on a hillside to isolate the castle from its neighbors (pictured left). The main value of this building, undoubtedly, is the perfectly preserved carved staircase, created during the construction of the castle and never not rebuilt.