Timeline Stories

Château de Jalesnes now works as a wedding venue and event space, offering accommodation and many services, since 2016 the château has made over 60 couples’ dreams a reality and has been the site of numerous events.

The Château was rescued by its current owners from a downward spiral of neglect and has been developed in line with its previous glamorous existence as a moated jewel in the collection of chateaux of the Loire Valley.

Dr. Fretigny opened a nursery for Encephalopathic children, and the centre expanded to accommodate children and adults with disabilities. The chateau outbuildings and land were sold off at different times to local neighbours over the years. In 2001 the school closed and the children and facilities moved to Vernantes township. The property was sold to

The castle became the headquarters of the German 1st Cavalry Division during WWII under the command of PC General Feldt. A first aid station was also installed to evacuate Germans killed in the area. The school continued to be run by the nuns whilst the soldiers took up part of the building.  

The Oblates of the Assumption came to settle in Anjou and transform the castle into the Institution of St. Louis, a convent school for daughters of the French aristocracy. It remained a fine educational institute until its closure in 1965.

A wealthy merchant from Saumur, Mr. Ackerman, bought the property and restored the castle to its former glory. After his death in 1914 his daughters, one of whom became a Carmelite nun, inherited and gave the castle to a work of education.         The Ackerman family is the founder of the famous