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Lassay-les-Châteaux
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Lassay-les-Châteaux is classified as a Petite Cité de Caractère, or Small City of Character. The small town of character label is awarded to small municipalities boasting a high-quality, coherent architectural heritage, and undertake to preserve their heritage and promote it to inhabitants and visitors.
The town is named for its three chateaux, or Castles: Chateau de Lassay, Chateau du Bois Thibault and Chateau Bois Frou. Lassay Chateau has eight substantial Towers and is largely intact, although restoration work continues on the structure; the ruins of Chateau du Bois Thibault are substantial, comprising two round towers and the accommodation building; while little remains of Chateau Bois Frou, other than a large stone gateway, portions of two towers and a small segment of wall.
Lassay castle fort, built in the 14th and 15th centuries, is classified as an Historic Monument and is an intact example of medieval military architecture, incorporating a two-storey barbican, small castle, eight round towers and curtain walls with Machicolations. It is scenically situated next to one of the town's two Ponds. A medieval garden recreated by local volunteers is connected to the building. An adjacent chapel and the Murals it contains are also classified as Historic Monuments. The Lassay chateau was built on the site of a previous, 12th-century castle that was demolished during the Hundred Years War. It belongs to the Montalembert family who are gradually restoring it, and is open to the public during the summer.
The castle has been open to visitors since 1948. Four of the eight towers have been restored since 2014, but the roofs of the remaining four towers are in fragile condition and need significant work. Work to consolidate the slope supporting one tower has also uncovered deterioration and disintegration of the rock on which the chateau stands, largely due to the effects of water and tree roots. Work will be needed to stabilise the base on which the chateau stands.
Also listed as an Historic Monument, the Château du Bois Thibault is constructed on the old foundations of the fortress of Foulques Nerra, dating from the 11th century. Remaining remnants include portions of a square building and two round towers. Guided tours are organised during the summer, and activities such as treasure hunts are held each year at the ruins of the chateau.
The Historic Monument-listed Benedictine Convent has an adjacent rose garden whose more than 300 varieties of Roses attract many visitors, and a restored, four-part medieval garden comprising a herb garden, orchard, copse and green carpet.
Saint Fraimbault, saint evangelizer of Maine in the 6th century, is buried in Lassay-les-Châteaux.
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