Quintin Castle

In 1638, the Marquis de la Moussaye, a devout Protestant, purchased the County of Quintin and its 28 parishes. He ordered the demolition of the feudal fortress, the former Laval castle, and in 1639 entrusted the architect Gabriel Androuet du Cerceau with the construction of the new building. It was to include four pavilions similar to the one we see today, a monumental structure overlooking the pond and the outbuildings, and a horseshoe-shaped castle with three wings.

Numerous disagreements between the bishop and the lord of the manor led to a lawsuit in which it is reported that the Marquise de la Moussaye, upon seeing the bishop, climbed the steps of the parliament building to insult the prelate and slap him. Louis XIV, upon receiving a complaint, exasperatedly ordered the immediate cessation of work, leaving the castle unfinished. Guided tours of the furnished apartments and various collections are organized from April to October by the current owners, and Quintin Castle hosts a themed exhibition for visitors every year.