Chateau de Matval

History of Chateau de Matval

We can trace the history of the Château back to the final centuries of the Roman Empire. In those times the region was called Matovallum in Latin which is where the Chateau's name comes from. The region is now called Bonneveau.


Childebert the first, son and heir to Clovis The Famous Merovingian King of the Franks, set up the estate in the year 524 AD and used the castle as the basis for considerably expanding the region by creating new market-towns as well as new fiefs. Traces of this era can still be found in the chateau’s Caves and ancient kitchen.


Over the centuries the castle passed through many hands with additions and modifications during each era. In the early middle ages Charlemagne’s son Clotaire owned the estate. At the turn of the 13th century, the dukes of Vendome, in order to further secure their boundaries had a seigniorial fortress erected of which flamboyant remains is the actual Château de Matval. In later centuries Henry the fourth, King of France and descendant of the Bourbon-Vendome owned Chateau de Montval.


The war minister to King Louis the XIV, “le Roy Soleil”, the marquis of Louvois will also mark the place before Napoleon’s only son, alias l’Aiglon, a 150 years later, witnessed his governess acquire the chateau...


Many more things can be said along the somewhat fifteen centuries of life. At Matval, and the last remnants of the past have not yet surrendered all of their secrets.

Castle photo

Photo from courtyard