This grey afternoon found us at Rochefort en Terre, voted the most beautiful village in France. Although it was revving up for rain, Nothing rocked my boat.
On the way home, R suggested that I take some shots at the Chateau de Trecesson, which have previously featured in R's project. So I did. I've also copied the story that accompanied his shots.
The first recorded construction on this site dates from 843; the present building was begun around 1440 by the Trécesson family. The moated château, which has its own private chapel - the Chapel of St, John - is still inhabited today. The oldest parts of the present building are the twin towers seen at the bottom of the entrance courtyard which comprises the estate workers dwellings and the stables. In front of the tower entrance doors is the bridge over the moat, which would have been a drawbridge in the past.
There are many stories and legends attaching to the château, of which the best known is the story of La Dame Blanche - The White Lady. Around 1750 a new bride was abducted on the night of her wedding (probably by her two brothers who were against the marriage) and buried alive in the grounds of the château. This wicked deed was witnessed by a poacher who informed the chatelaine of this heinous crime. Her grave was found at first light and she was disinterred still breathing, but died shortly afterwards without revealing the identity of her abductors. Her wedding dress and her bouquet rested on the altar of the chapel until the revolution.
