Built in the 16th century, the Château de la Poupelière was the residence of Guillaume Payen de la Poupelière, a member of the local minor nobility and owner of seven seigneurial lands. In the spring of 1562, it became a stronghold of Protestantism in the Bocage region.
The current castle consists of two distinct parts. The first was erected after the marriage of Guy-François de Gonidec de Penlan, squire, lord of Vieuxchatel and Gouasselglan, to Marie-Elisabeth-Françoise Auvray de la Pouplière on November 19, 1760. The second part was built by André Velay to house his large family. The renovation and expansion work, including the hall, was overseen by Mr. Nénot, an architect at the Sorbonne.
In the 20th century, the Château de la Poupelière’s fate took a dark turn. It was acquired by a crime baron, John Palmer, a wealthy godfather ranked 105th on the Sunday Times list, the same rank as the queen. With an estimated fortune of 53 million euros, he is nicknamed Goldfinger. Rumors circulate that his wealth was amassed through massive real estate scams, notably in the timeshare sales sector in Spain. The château has been bought back, and this place is no longer open for visits.
