Meet Gabriel de Gréaulme

Whilst in one of the tower rooms this week I took a closer look at the decoration above the fireplace. I think that it dates from the early 18th century and as a centre piece features the face of a bearded man. I noticed above this face there is a scallop shell. Three of these shells form the blazon (heraldic shield) of the de Gréaulme family - owners of the chateau from 1500 to 1561 and from 1695 to 1833. I know that the chateau underwent a big renovation in the early 1700's, totally transforming the roof and much of the inside. This work would have been undertaken by Gabriel de Gréaulme. I suspect that it is his face that we see in the relief above the fireplace.