Base Mérimée: Monuments historiques · France
Chapelle des ducs d'Alençon
Essay, Orne, France
The record
- Designation
- Historic monument, registered (inscrit), in part
- Protection
- inscrit MH partiellement
- Extent of protection
- Façades et toitures de la chapelle et motte féodale sur laquelle elle est construite : inscription par arrêté du 10 juin 1975
- Protection dates
- 1975/06/10 : inscrit MH
- Type
- chapelle
- Main period of construction
- 12e siècle, 15e siècle
- Dates
- 1166
- Ownership
- propriété privée
- Commune
- Essay
- Département
- Orne
- Region
- Normandie
- Country
- France
- Coordinates
- 48.54350, 0.24644
- Mérimée reference
- PA00110801
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesIGN France — GéoportailDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Perchensis Comitatus : La Perche Comte" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Ministère de la Culture's notice
Historique
Probablement à l'emplacement d'un castrum romain, Guillaume Ier de Bellême fit construire son château fort, mentionné en 1088 comme l'une des forteresses les plus considérables de la Maison de Bellême. Vers 1361, Pierre II comte d'Alençon l'aurait fait reconstruire presque entièrement et agrandir. En partie détruit pendant la guerre de Cent ans, le château fut restauré en 1489. A la fin des guerres de Religion, Henri IV ordonna sa destruction. Marie de Médicis fit construire une prison avec les matériaux. En subsistent aujourd'hui des murs d'enceinte et l'ancienne chapelle seigneuriale construite en 1166, restaurée au 15e siècle. Edifiée sur le plan des saintes chapelles fondées dans l'enceinte d'un château royal, elle avait deux étages, la chapelle haute communiquant avec les appartements seigneuriaux. La chapelle basse était affectée aux gens de service et à la garnison.
English translation
The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com
History
Probably on the site of a Roman castrum, Guillaume Ier de Bellême had his stronghold built, mentioned in 1088 as one of the most considerable fortresses of the House of Bellême. Around 1361, Pierre II count d'Alençon is said to have had it rebuilt almost entirely and enlarged. Partially destroyed during the Hundred Years' War, the castle was restored in 1489. At the end of the Wars of Religion, Henri IV ordered its destruction. Marie de Médicis had a prison built with the materials. What remains today are sections of the perimeter walls and the old seigneurial chapel built in 1166, restored in the 15th century. Built on the model of the holy chapels founded within the enclosure of a royal castle, it had two storeys, the upper chapel communicating with the seigneurial apartments. The lower chapel was for the servants and the garrison.
Nearby in the register
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.