I was struck by the name of this castle, in a hamlet similar in name to the mythical Scottish village which only appears from the mist once every hundred years.
Most of the time, this castle is hidden from outside eyes by the dense foliage of the trees surrounding it. Only  from late Autumn to early Spring can it be glimpsed through the copse, from the main road.  On a rough panel at the road end, the name of the Hamlet is abbreviated to -  B.Rigardon  ( Bas Rigardon).
The Chateau de Rigardon is as elusive as its Scottish counterpart.

It looks like it's abandoned, as has been for a while!

Great job as usual Blériot but then I get to thinking that maintenance would be a never ending job. Maybe a holiday let where customers get issued with a can of paint on entry.

ebea Posted at 4-12 13:13
It looks like it's abandoned, as has been for a while!

Closed up, certainly. But not abandoned. The gardens are immaculately manicured, and there is a large working farm of the same name adjacent to the grounds. There are many such castles around France (over 300 in the Mayenne alone). A lot of them are unused, as maintenance and upkeep - in addition to rates and land taxes - are prohibitively expensive for all but the very wealthy.

sky wombat Posted at 4-12 16:53
Great job as usual Blériot but then I get to thinking that maintenance would be a never ending job. Maybe a holiday let where customers get issued with a can of paint on entry.

Thanks mate.  I'd subscribe to that idea   Although this one is in relatively good structural condition, I suspect it would need rather more than a few gallons of paint to transform it into a going concern.

Nice shots of a pretty place. Good to have a drone!

Blériot53 Posted at 4-12 20:30
Closed up, certainly. But not abandoned. The gardens are immaculately manicured, and there is a large working farm of the same name adjacent to the grounds. There are many such castles around France (over 300 in the Mayenne alone). A lot of them are unused, as maintenance and upkeep - in addition to rates and land taxes - are prohibitively expensive for all but the very wealthy.

Yes, I noticed the farm, very close to the Castle. But for me, on the photos, it looks like that windows are filled out with some kind of plates, on the backsite of the Castle.
And I can see, from a TV series which runs on Danish televison,which follow a couple from UK, which did buy a Castle, and later on, help others which also did buy one of these castles, in awfull conditions, that there are a lot of these empty castles.

Depp Posted at 4-12 21:50
Nice shots of a pretty place. Good to have a drone!

Hi Depp. Yes, only the drone can reveal the grandeur of this place. At ground level it's almost impossible to see.

ebea Posted at 4-12 22:20
Yes, I noticed the farm, very close to the Castle. But for me, on the photos, it looks like that windows are filled out with some kind of plates, on the backsite of the Castle.
And I can see, from a TV series which runs on Danish televison,which follow a couple from UK, which did buy a Castle, and later on, help others which also did buy one of these castles, in awfull conditions, that there are a lot of these empty castles.

The windows are covered by wooden shutters - which are part of the  original structure of the building, and are closed at night, or when the place is unoccupied.  Many houses in France have such shutters (or volets, as they are called)  The TV series is probably ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAU?  A popular series about the Chateau de la Motte Husson, which is also in the Mayenne, about an hour's drive from here

Nice captures!

Blériot53 Posted at 4-12 22:58
The windows are covered by wooden shutters - which are part of the  original structure of the building, and are closed at night, or when the place is unoccupied.  Many houses in France have such shutters (or volets, as they are called)  The TV series is probably ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAU?  A popular series about the Chateau de la Motte Husson, which is also in the Mayenne, about an hour's drive from here

Yes, I think it's the same TV serie (Dick Strawbridge, and family). Also very popular here in DK.
I was unsure abouth the windows, as they did not look like shutters, but more just a wooden plate (as protect for damaged windows). But anyway, interesting to see a bit around in France, and these Castles!

Great Shot    Just needs a moat.  

Amazing shots Blériot.    Love the architecture of this castle.  

Like DAFlys said, just missing a moat.  LOL.

Great job
Nice castle

DAFlys Posted at 4-12 23:22
Great Shot    Just needs a moat.

Barring a monsoon, that'll never happen

ckat007 Posted at 4-13 05:09
Great job
Nice castle

Thanks ckat

DowntownRDB Posted at 4-13 03:50
Amazing shots Blériot.    Love the architecture of this castle.  

Like DAFlys said, just missing a moat.  LOL.

Thanks RDB.  The French definition of Castle is a little vague. This type is little more than a country mansion.  The idea of a majestic castle on a mountain, like those in Bavaria, or again the massive fortifications with a moat and drawbridge, are more like our concept of "Castle".

Montfrooij Posted at 4-12 23:05
Nice captures!

Thanks Monty

Blériot53 Posted at 4-13 07:24
Thanks Monty

You're welcome!

Blériot53 Posted at 4-13 07:14
Barring a monsoon, that'll never happen

Don’t they have JCB’s in France?

Blériot53 Posted at 4-12 12:20
[view_image]

Beautiful shots and nice weather Bleriot53

DAFlys Posted at 4-13 10:19
Don’t they have JCB’s in France?

Sure they do, but would you rip up those manicured gardens for a puddle?  

nevac Posted at 4-13 10:32
Beautiful shots and nice weather Bleriot53

Thank you. And yes, we've been having great weather for a few weeks now, apart from one 24-hour rainy spell.

Lovely pics, thanks for showing

Droffarc Posted at 4-13 12:14
Lovely pics, thanks for showing

Thank you

Blériot53 Posted at 4-13 10:46
Sure they do, but would you rip up those manicured gardens for a puddle?

If it had a drawbridge I would.  

Blériot53 Posted at 4-13 07:18
Thanks RDB.  The French definition of Castle is a little vague. This type is little more than a country mansion.  The idea of a majestic castle on a mountain, like those in Bavaria, or again the massive fortifications with a moat and drawbridge, are more like our concept of "Castle".

You're very welcome Blériot.    

Blériot53 Posted at 4-13 07:15
Thanks ckat

You're welcome

Blériot53 Posted at 4-12 12:20
[view_image]

Brigadoon just happens to be my favorite musical.  Very cool images, thank you for sharing.

Nice place!

AeroNW Posted at 4-17 18:43
Brigadoon just happens to be my favorite musical.  Very cool images, thank you for sharing.

It's one of my earliest memories of being taken to the Coliseum theatre in our town, as a kid, to see a repertory production of the story.

Armando80 Posted at 4-17 21:43
Nice place!

It looks great, doesn't it, with its manicured gardens.

Beautiful shot's Blériot! Amazing views! Thanks for sharing!

QQRUCH Posted at 4-18 03:46
Beautiful shot's Blériot! Amazing views! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks QQ

Blériot53 Posted at 4-18 03:47
Thanks QQ

you're welcome Capt!