Why does Méréglise appear in Proust's work?

The village appears in Proust's writings under the softened name Méséglise, mentioned during the narrator's walks on the Swann side, though Proust never actually described the castle itself.

When was the present castle built?

The castle dates from around 1730, a date inscribed on a brick plaque at the corner of a ground-floor window. It replaced an earlier castle of which little is now known.

What purpose did the gatehouse-towers serve?

The two gatehouses flanking the castle symmetrically controlled access to the moated platform by means of a drawbridge. They marked the defensive points of an ensemble organized around a ditch system.

What became of the property over time?

Sold by the Ligneris family around 1907, the property was divided and split between two different owners during the 20th century, which altered its access routes and spatial layout.

Château de Méréglise

Méréglise Castle

Méréglise

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Where: Méréglise

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Château de Méréglise stands in Méréglise (Eure-et-Loir), in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: 18th century, 19th century). The building is privately owned and no visits are on record.

Built around 1730 for the Ligneris family, Méréglise castle stands on a moated platform in Eure-et-Loir, near Illiers-Combray. Its architecture unfolds along an east-west axis, with a main residence flanked by two symmetrical gatehouse-towers that once controlled access via a drawbridge. The property's water management system, fed by the Thironne stream, historically integrated gardens, moats and a mill into a unified composition.

What to know

The castle and its gatehouse-towers have been listed as historical monuments since 2001, while certain modern extensions lie outside this protection.
Access to the property was redirected during the 20th century, replacing the original east-west route with a new north-south perspective.
The architectural ensemble has undergone significant changes: division into two separate properties, disappearance of the mill, and reduction of the ornamental terraces reflect its evolution over time.

Where this château is

Méréglise · Eure-et-Loir · Centre-Val de Loire

Map of the area around Château de Méréglise

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

2 Rue de la Pierre Levée, 28120 Méréglise

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Registered historic monument (inscrit); Mérimée record PA28000009
Period of construction: 18th century, 19th century

In pictures

Frequently asked

Why does Méréglise appear in Proust's work?: The village appears in Proust's writings under the softened name Méséglise, mentioned during the narrator's walks on the Swann side, though Proust never actually described the castle itself.
When was the present castle built?: The castle dates from around 1730, a date inscribed on a brick plaque at the corner of a ground-floor window. It replaced an earlier castle of which little is now known.
What purpose did the gatehouse-towers serve?: The two gatehouses flanking the castle symmetrically controlled access to the moated platform by means of a drawbridge. They marked the defensive points of an ensemble organized around a ditch system.
What became of the property over time?: Sold by the Ligneris family around 1907, the property was divided and split between two different owners during the 20th century, which altered its access routes and spatial layout.