Our French twin town is situated between Laval and Angers, in the region of Mayenne, on the river Mayenne. With a population of 18,000 it is a beautiful, interesting town which can make a good centre for touring the region and the Loire valley. It was founded around 1007 by the Count of Anjou when he built a castle to defend a strategic river crossing on the borders of his domain. He put the castle in charge of one of his officers, Renaud Gontier, hence Le Château de Gontier, later to be condensed to Château-Gontier.
It is a flower-decked town which has received many prizes. There are even huge seasonal floral displays on the principal roundabouts, for example in autumn using autumn colours and harvest produce. On one bank of the river is the restful Murrhardt Garden, and on the other the colourful Frome Garden, with floral mosaics and a St Aldhelm plaque presented by Frome's mayor of that time to mark the 25th anniversary of our twinning. At this point the river is very wide and navigable, the town stretching along both sides with two grand bridges joining the two parts.The Mayenne is a tributary of the Loire and many boats travel along it. Many water sports are practised on the river, including canoeing, rowing, sailing, wind-surfing and water-skiing, as well as fishing. Alongside the river is a swimming pool with a sliding roof and a sun-deck.
Just as in Frome, there are many old streets and buildings, the oldest being the church and priory of St Jean-Baptiste, built in the 11th century, with others spanning the centuries: churches, chapels, hotels, inns, a pillory square, parts of the original ramparts, as well as narrow streets of half-timbered houses. Even the hospital is housed in the refurbished Saint-Julien church, built in the 13th century, using the main door of the church with its beautiful stained-glass windows as a grand entrance. Les Ursulines Convent, around 350 years old, has been transformed into a cultural centre, with a school of music, dance and visual arts, together with a theatre/ conference hall. The Tourist Information office is now based here.
To find out more about Château-Gontier, please visit their
website 