Tour de Trèves, Tower in Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault (Maine-et-Loire)

The Tour de Trèves is the surviving keep of the castle rebuilt in the 15th century by Robert Le Maçon, in Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault. Built of light grey and pale beige rectangular stone blocks, the tall cylindrical tower has two small rectangular windows with light frames on its right side, a narrow stone band at mid-height, and a small round opening with a vertical slit near the bottom. It has numerous machicolations and stands next to the Saint-Aubin church.

The present keep was rebuilt in the 15th century by Robert Le Maçon as the main tower of the castle of Trèves. In 1747 the wealthy shipowner and slave-plantation owner Jean II Stapleton bought the castle, and from 1750 he had it rebuilt, keeping only the old keep. The tower was classified as a monument historique in 1904.

The tower stands beside the church of Saint-Aubin in the hamlet of Trèves, and the two are the last remnants of the castle that Jean II Stapleton had rebuilt from 1750, keeping only the old keep. The name Trèves comes from the village, now part of Chênehutte-Trèves-Cunault in Maine-et-Loire.

The tower is privately owned and visible from outside but not open to visitors. There are small parking areas nearby and walking paths around the site where you can view the structure and see the Loire River.

The tower is the only surviving part of the château de Trèves: after Jean II Stapleton bought the estate, he rebuilt the castle from 1750 and kept just this keep. The tower now stands beside the Saint-Aubin church, and the site was classified as a monument historique in 1904.