"because he was a man whose meeting might be unpleasant" citation taken from the Nivernais album of 1816 on the reasons for his blindness by the Muslims during the crusade of Hugues de Meauce in 1250.

​ Meauce, one of the oldest castles of Nivernais

Meauce is a very old land. Starting from 1070, texts mentioning Guy and Robert Rochefort, lords of Meauce, appear. The site is nevertheless largely occupied well before the 9th century and was owned by the Bishop of Nevers.
In the beginning of the 13th century, another Robert de Meauce measured 70 feet, or 2.10 meters. His unusual height for those times gave him the nickname "Door Baise".
His son, Hugues de Meauce, stands out for a nobler reason. In 1248, he accompanied Saint Louis in crusades. At the battle of Mansourah, Hugues is made prisoner, but the Saracens fearing the agility and strength of Hugues de Meauce, burned his eyes. Saint Louis, grateful to this faithful knight, pays his ransom and makes him return to France, where he finances the reconstruction of the castle of Meauce on Rochefort. Rochefort is a rocky peak in the middle of the Allier river, which gave its name to the first lords of Meauce, Guy and Robert Rochefort de Meauce. 

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Royal Wedding and Papal Union ensure Meauce prosperity

The castle is barely new-built, his son, Hugues II de Meauce, married with Isabelle de Sully, direct descendant of Hugues Capet, hold the lordship that will change its name in 1349. Due to a lack of male lineage, the castle of Meauce passes to the family Monturuc with the marriage of Catherine de Meauce with Etienne de Monturuc. Innocent VI, Pope in Avignon from 1352 to 1362, is Etienne’s uncle. Innocent VI is very generous with his family, who counted Petrarch as familiar. De Meauce's sons are sent all over Europe, are made bishops and some will be famous cardinals.
For lack of "available" boys, it is therefore the daughter of Etienne, Catherine de Monturuc, who after her marriage with Regnauld de Roffignac gives Meauce to this family from Limousin.

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A bad diplomatic choice and Meauce is confiscated!
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With the Roffignac family, Meauce lives through a period of important proximity and civil service to the County of Nevers and the Kings of France. Regnauld de Roffignac is the close counselor and chamberlain of John the Fearless, earl of Nevers at that time. After his father being chamberlain of Charles V, he was appointed chamberlain of Charles VI in 1406. Roffignac de Meauce will also be chamberlain to Charles VII.
During the Hundred Years War, the Roffignac hesitate between their support to the Burgundian party and the King of France. By dint of playing in both camps, Meauce is confiscated and entrusted to Jean de la Rivière. Only after the treaty of Amiens in 1435 and the intervention of Charles VII the castle of Meauce was returned to Guyot de Roffignac in 1438 subject to a heavy ransom. In order to pay it, the Roffignac went beyond their authority of Chamberlain and issued counterfeit money, that led them to prison in Paris. Freed, they have exceeded their authority in the right to wreck, which caused a trial administered by the King himself. It led to the end of the wreckage right on the river Allier and Dordogne.
The Roffignac honorably served as chamberlains throughout the late 15th century. They acquired the fiefs of Saincaize and Apremont on Allier. It is at the end of this century and at the beginning of the 16th century that they carry out majestic works with the big stair tower and the big chimney of the room of justice. In 1586, the family splits in two. One branch keeps Meauce until 1690 and the other settles in Apremont sur Allier on the other side of the Allier river. The two castles, directly opposite each other, are linked (see photo of the castle of Apremont, seen from the alley of Meauce).

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Despite some "love at first sight", Meauce gradually falls into oblivion.

Following a mischance, Meauce came out of the de Meauce family for the fist time in 1690. It is Anne Voiland, wife of Jean Baptiste de Mérigot, steward of the Duke of Nevers who makes this acquisition. In the absence of an heir, Meauce was sold in 1772 for 93,000 livres to the forge master Benoit Moreau des Marest. He made some important changes, especially in the inner bailey which he transformed into a modern farm. By marriage, Meauce had the chance to be taken over by the Tiersonnier family whose many representatives can be found in the crypt of the chapel. Thanks to them, the Castle is partially classified in 1923, but no one has inhabited it since the middle of the 19th century for lack of modern comfort.
During a night parachuting in February 1944, Jean Devaivre, the famous resistance fighter Janus during the Nazi occupation, falls literally in love with Meauce. He will have to wait until the 60s to find the castle "seen from the night sky". He was conquered by its appearance seen from the ground, but he could become its owner only in 1971. Jean Devaivre is also the film director well known for "Caroline Cherie" or "the lady of eleven o'clock". He extended the castle protection of 1923, and wanted to use Meauce as a movie setting.
But Meauce is split into several sections and Devaivre possesses only the round castle. He undertakes a first phase of work that generates legal difficulties that will last for more than 30 years and make the castle fall into oblivion and into total abandonment again.
After 100 years of abandonment, a new era of restoration opens today. We hope to return all the splendor of its great and long history to this castle.

You can find the memoirs of Jean Devaivre, published in 2002 by Nicolas Philippe, under the title "Action!"

The life of Jean Devaivre is depicted in the film "Laissez-passer" by Bertrand Tavernier. Jean Devaivre is interpreted by Jacques Gamblin.

Evolution of the Castle's architecture throughout the centuries

The Castle’s origin: a motte-and-bailey construction of the 11th century

Robert and Guy are the first lords of Meauce cited in 1070.
What was the shape of their castle?
The carved basement rock forming a motte, a classical organization of lords’ power since the 10th century throughout Europe, could have been crowned with a wooden tower following the usual patterns for the second-rate lords like Robert and Guy.

Appearance of a stone castle in the 12th and 13th centuries

We are not aware of the Romanesque style of Meauce Castle. The original carved remains, reused on the site, give an idea of possible construction of a stone castle in the 12th century. It is the case of the gargoyle head integrated into the south wall of the current farmyard. The three carved heads of the castle’s Northern masonry outgrowth are difficult to date. Their Romanesque origin is doubtful, but they testify to the modification of the masonry at different times. In the middle of the 13th century, Hugues de Meauce is believed to have returned glorious from the 7th crusade alongside King Saint-Louis. He is said to have (re-?) built the castle at this time. Is it the stone foundation of the existing castle?

14th century: The construction of the existing castle

In the years 1360-1370, the English are reported in the Nivernais during the Hundred Years War. They have probably destroyed a first castle in Meauce whose organization is unknown to us. De Meauce family owned the castle up until 1349 when Marguerite de Meauce, the only heiress, married Etienne de Monteurs (nephew of Pope Innocent VI). One of their daughters marries Renault de Roffignac in 1379. A document of 1383 kept in the Departmental Archives mentions a castle recently re-built (source: pre-study work for the restoration of the Meauce Castle by Paul Barnoud ACMH in 1998), probably built following this marriage.
This is certainly the basis of the current castle. An enclosure without tower in the form called shell-keeps is modernized on the motte. The former is used for defensive and residential functions.


In the 15th century Meauce wakes up from the Hundred Years War

The Roffignacs are owners of Meauce during several centuries. The careful analysis of the building shows that the Roffignacs modernize and enlarge Meauce during the 15th century. It allows to discern successive extensions built into each other without allowing to give a precise dating.


End of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century: redevelopment of the Castle

Important works are undertaken to give the Castle its current general dimensions. A wing is built to the south of the courtyard, as well as the main stair tower, connecting the two buildings in a single dwelling. The kitchens are preserved. The Northern and the Eastern part of the castle, originally its dwelling and defense, seem to become a service quarter. Their secondary importance is affirmed by lower roofs and tiles while the high slopes of the dwelling are in slate.


17th century: punctual interventions, the big service quarters appear

Until the end of the 17th century, the castle still belongs to the Roffignac family. A new dovecote is added to the service quarters in 1636. The castle itself receives new amenities as the fireplace in the sleeping-room above the great hall.
The overlay of the courtyard between the two parts of the dwelling, to the south of the castle, could also date back to this period. Indeed the framework of the pavilion as well as that of the stair tower (reconstructed at this time or in the 18th century and reinforced with metal wedges) seem to date back from this era. This overlay consists of a high pavilion at the back of the stair tower which further enhances the pre-eminence of the dwelling in the overall composition. With this construction, the primitive curtain wall is now completely lined with buildings.


18th century: from the castle to the recreation dwelling

In 1772, the estate was sold to Benoît Moreau des Marais who undertook major works to modernize the house and make it more comfortable. He does not modify the general volumes of the castle, but erases the defensive characteristics of the building. The castle access bridge is removed and replaced by a solid land framed by vast service quarters. The pointed arch of the entrance door is partially clogged and takes on the more classic shape of a segmented arch. A large door opens to the great hall from the courtyard, making passage through the stair tower secondary. Large bays in the original curtain wall open views towards the West and the South of the Allier river and illuminate the ample medieval and renaissance rooms.
The interior decorations are renewed and paneling is installed. The remains of light colors on the floor beams, often pale blue, suggest that they have been left exposed and covered with hues in keeping with the new paneling. In 1781, the daughter of Benoît Moreau des Marais married Eloy Tissonnier, ancestor of the family Héron de Villefosse who remains owner of the castle until 1971.


19th and 20th centuries: chaotic maintenance, historical monument and abandonment.

During the 19th century, the castle remains inhabited and is maintained: decorations and coatings of the dwelling are partially renewed. In 1923, it is partially protected as Historic Monument: the main stair tower and adjoining turret are classified.
The general condition of the castle is bad and the owner undertakes to restore the unprotected roofs of the low wings and the western part of the house which he replaces in flat tiles. The slate stair tower restoration was carried out in 1924 with the Fine Arts Service help. It is therefore at this time that the distinction of roofing materials between the dwelling slate and the service quarters tile partially disappears. In 1971, the castle was sold to film director Jean Devaivre. A restoration of the coverings starts for the western part of the dwelling but is brutally stopped by a dispute between the owner and the Historical Monuments Service.
The construction will not be resumed. Only a part of the roof of the West dwelling as well as the west side high slopes, unfortunately renewed in tiles, will be restored. The rest of the framework will be left in the current state and the most altered roofs deposited and replaced by sheeting. In the 1990s, the property is fragmented and the service buildings are sold to Mr. de Lavergne. The Devaivre family will sell him the castle only in 2015, despite its total abandonment,. Mr. de Lavergne will keep the complete site for one year. The current owners Mr. and Mrs. Cédric Mignon acquire it in July 2016.

Written by C. Mignon