Last Château Before Revolution

While the revolutionaries were busy beheading their own king and queen and plunging their country into chaos and civil war, a conflict that would cost more than two million lives in their attempt to teach everyone a lesson about liberty, equality and fraternity, Jean-François Daburon calmly decided to add a château to his estate. The Daburons were not ancient nobility, but a dynasty of magistrates. They belonged to the French noblesse de robe: families who gained wealth and influence through positions in the courts and administrative institutions. The house was built in the classical Louis XVI style and is considered the 'last château in Anjou before the Revolution.' The hamlet of the village existed long before the present château was built. Official heritage records mention the oldest parts date back to the 16th century. Originally, it was not a prestigious château like Chambord or Villandry, but rather a seigneurial residence: a noble estate connected to land ownership, agriculture and local power. Like many estates in Anjou, it gradually evolved from an older fortified or agricultural structure. Of all the places I have visited, this chateau is by far my favourite. It rests against a gently sloping hill beside a branch of the Loire, a river that occasionally breaks its banks. In the entrance gate on the lower side of the estate, I can still see driftwood caught in the iron bars up to two metres high. The Loire floodplains. In terms of harmony and balance, the château is a classic beauty, and its decay has only enhanced its presence in the landscape. Meanwhile, I become so absorbed by the atmosphere that I only realise how hot it is when my iPhone starts struggling and eventually shuts down. Sweating, I stumble back across the open fields to the car. While recovering in the air conditioning, I discover that the temperature outside is 43°C. A little excessive, even by my standards. The weather is not ideal for filming anyway: the harsh sunlight turns everything painfully white, and the lack of shade flattens the entire scene. I decide to search for somewhere to swim (which, in that region, is quite an undertaking) and return another time. A few days later, I arrive at the estate again and pitch my tent. It is still brutally hot, and the promised thunderstorm never arrives. In the evening, some thin clouds finally soften the light, allowing me to make a few recordings. As I approach the house, I notice motion cameras on the façade on two sides, and at the back of the property I spot an SUV. During the night, some of the rooms are illuminated. Fortunately, the château is actively managed; otherwise, it would quickly deteriorate into a sad urbex ruin. After a restless night in 35°C heat, I leave Mantelon once again, somewhat unsatisfied. I would gladly drive another 700 kilometres for it, preferably when the weather is a little less forgiving.