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 estates. In the spring of 1562, it became a stronghold of Protestantism in the Bocage region.
The current château comprises 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 entrance 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. Acquired by John Palmer, a wealthy crime boss ranked 105th on the Sunday Times Rich List, the same as the Queen, and with an estimated fortune of €53 million, he was nicknamed Goldfinger. Rumors circulated that his wealth had been acquired through massive real estate scams, particularly in the timeshare sector in Spain. The château has since been sold and is no longer open to the public.
