Château de Montecler

The origins of the Château de Montecler lie in the former lordship of Launay or l'Aunay-Péan. This was originally a fief of Tremblay in Saint-Christophe-du-Luat and later of the arrière-fief Entrammes, which in turn was subject to Château-Gontier. In 1605, Launay, along with the lordships of Roussière and Moncrintin, was elevated to a châtellenie. King Louis XIII granted the châtellenie the rank of a marquisate under the name Montecler in 1616, in recognition of Urbain de Montecler's services. Later, André de Montecler acquired the lordship of Tremblay and received permission to be directly subject to the King. During the French Revolution, the Marquise's estates were confiscated, and the forests around the castle were the scene of numerous battles between National Guards and Chouans. The castle itself remained uninhabited during this period.

The Château de Montecler is located in Châtres-la-Forêt, in the Mayenne department, in the Pays de la Loire region of France. It stands at an altitude of approximately 90 meters above sea level.

Today, the Château de Montecler is privately owned and is a listed historical monument. It presents itself as an extensive main building that remained unfinished and never received its planned expansion. Nevertheless, a beautiful pavilion with a unique roof and a still-preserved drawbridge are noteworthy. Inside the castle, there is a large hall and a room with a magnificent fireplace made of painted and carved paneling. A modest chapel, founded around 1631, also belongs to the estate.

• Château de la Courbe de Brée (castle), approx. 5.4 km away
• Château de Sainte-Suzanne (castle), approx. 6.9 km away
• Château du Rocher (castle), approx. 7.0 km away
• Roman fort Rubricaire (ancient buildings), approx. 11.0 km away