Built in the 16th century, Goldfinger Castle was the property of Guillaume Payen de la Poupelière, a member of the regional minor nobility owning seven seigneurial lands. In the spring of 1562, it became a stronghold of Protestantism in the Bocage.
The current castle consists of two distinct parts. The first part was built after the marriage on November 19, 1760, of Guy-François de Gonidec de Penlan, squire, lord of Vieuxchatel and Gouasselglan, to Marie-Elisabeth-Françoise Auvray de la Pouplière. The second part was constructed by André Velay to house his large family. The hall renovations and expansions were overseen by Mr. Nénot, architect of the Sorbonne.
In the 20th century, the fate of Goldfinger Castle took a dark and unexpected turn. It was acquired by a crime lord, John Palmer, a wealthy godfather ranked 105th on the Sunday Times list, the same rank as the queen. His fortune, estimated at 53 million euros, earned him the nickname Goldfinger. It is said that he amassed his wealth through massive real estate scams, notably by selling timeshare properties in Spain.
