New-York tribune., 1902-03-29
LA HUNAUDAYE.
TYPICAL LANDMARK OF BRITTANY
FAST FAILING INTO DECAY.

-,.--r- France March l5.-There are many
,,lf-g old ruins lu France and not a few In
r,-ir+arv. bar none more lonely or forgotten than
-bsr sf inc castle of La Hunaudaye, buried IN
forest that looks as II II nao not changed III lhe
ss7 thousand years.
tn forest os I'll Hunaudaye. or forest of Laumor.
ss r. vas also called, was In the Middle Ages a
-er5ezvatIs for an the brigands OF the country.
r,sr rr-a. - attack travellers who passed that
- ami were not sufficiently guarded Among
z. -.r5 suffered was the Bishop OF Saint BrieuX.
,z -zv fu the fourteenth century was at
-tas Hv these -uf7ans while crossing the forest
- --rr liberated on his promising to pay "A
-, -.rz1u losing AZ the same time his horses
- IN his baggage. The trees of this forest were
+rrtpalIy oak beech and chestnut-that truly
- --+. which also furnished thick under
--o7rth ln which the wild boar was often found.
gs5rers and squirrels are ar the present time its
most dangerous inhabitants, although II the winter
: severe IT is not uncommon 70 see a pack OF
go wolves come stealing out in quest Of prey
-t-b they failed 10 find IN its dark retreat
= rs NOT only on account Of the atrocities COM
.-e5 t,r IFS robbers that the forest Of La HUnau-
4s was famous. far greater was the terror caused
:. all III. Breton peasants by its owner, the noble
- -74s-s N Seizneur T0urnemne de Ia Hunau-
5sre Rrr-- magnificent castle. built in the years
-q,4-lzn noted in The annals OF Breton chiyalry
re s---f-ee- says Freminvile wished 20 unite
elegance zl-r strength. The castle standing in
-be centre rr the forest was in shape heDtagonal,
esrEef rr seven towers good deal higher than
me main building and surmounted BY turrets- In
addition r. these. two other towers protected tha
entrance 01a on each side, the whole surrounded
-, dor,hIe n1oat. the walls about forty feet
- bsiv-r and NJ great thickness. Both walls and
.ovra-s acre surrounded by outstanding parapets
s7 that sr case or attack boiling oil and melted
-s.-. might -s poured on the besiegers- IN the
ee---s If me court was deep well where the in
habltauts could always get lh-I supply "- "a'74
in times ~
But none of -ris original splendor longer exists for
during the French Revolution violent hands we're
laid on rta castle SO many others ana II SUI
fara5 r-. same fate. its owner was forced. by order
~ -be directors ~ the district Of Lamballe town
sarne fifteen miles distant. TO set fire 20 his own
castle lez- II should fall into the power OF the
royali-t army. II was then the property o. Nine.
de TaIlo1er a descendant Of the family ~ Iourna-
nine rr is said the Ere lasted eighteen DAYS before
il burned irses out
The r-sor tower tn particular attracts the atten-
ZION 1g ne .isitor ~ ,he present day, its walls
being covered with INSCRIPTIONS or aguTeS eaTEed yea
-sr5 there one Of the sgures IS an infant swatned
,~-es md stars Thts IS the only apartment that
srIl keeps us roof. it was stone vaulted. and go
sssir recognized as there triple doors, and in
The ~. ho-es or sockets mo W "I1IL 1eT T holes
p-sarer ee-+- In the centre Of the castle stood
he chapel its Gothic windows and carved doors
bearing testimony 20 its pristine beauty, DTttl5
under The chapel IS the entrance 70 sl6IeFraal 1 @
win an r-E -ISr should any one De tenhplt1 10
explore This dismal route ne viii encounter COM
rlere darkness q cold damp feeling and a most
peculiar noise caused by multitude o. bats escaI
ing from rhr unusual sight or a visitor 10 lt~lI
abode, tor few strangers 20 70 la tunatcaye a ana
the peasants rarely 90 inside the castle al all inHch
would they venture into the gloom o. lis under
ground mysteries II You ask why you would
PROBABLY get the same answer as did the writer
from aged peasant living or the farm close at
hand. uho told this tale IN Breton French.
some hundred TeaT- ago monsieur ~al'l re-
''the castle owned b- S-izreu- Dc Iourrenine,
AZ atrocloEsly cruel man who, n order 10 ger pos
session 0t H. killed his faith r and his elder Jrother.
His VIE. who was q good woman. often reProached
hin Win his crime. so he got I'D o1 her IN the
2 dreadful storm arose. j was late at night, and
the SeiEueur sitting IL his room when a loud
KNOCK sounded the door The sentiIeis had not
observed any one come down me avenue. which.
man, dressed fu rad. was ushered into the Sci
EleLr'E presence Every one was greatly aStOnlShed
10 hnd that, although IL was raining in torrents
outside. his clothes We're perfectly dry Who art
thoEH said de Tourneuine, and how dare YOU come
into ny castle without retlDUe az this hour OF
night? Ny retinue Is present, answered the
the three figures of the father brother md wife
became visible All were shastly wuite and
wrapped IN shroUds which they opened and showed
the blood pouring from heir wounds Then the
guard and pointing the eldest Of the three spec
tres he added. There Is your father. q holy Ola
nan who Tas slain by a dagger thrust here
turning 70 The younger IS your brother, and there
IS yDEr wife. You are the murderer Of all three
and you know H. Then the three ghosts laid hold
OF the Seigneur de- TOurne-nine and he fell dead at
vanished. During this time tire lightning was rend-
ing the skies and peal after peal Of thunder re-
verberated IN the valleys"
such Is the legend of La Hunandaye; and the
country folk believe that the castle IS Sl haunted
by the mysterious four.