Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Courtilloles is an 18th-century building located in the Sarthe department of Pays de la Loire. It is halfway between the communes of Saint-Rigomer-des-Bois and Champfleur, although its official address is sometimes associated with Villeneuve-en-Perseigne. This monument, typical of the rural architecture of the time, was partially inscribed in the Historic Monuments in 1964, before being fully protected in 2021, with the exception of elements after the 19th century.

The protection of the castle extends to all built and unbuilt buildings, including the surrounding meadows. The grids, stables, meadows, swimming pool and other recent developments (XX and 21st centuries) are excluded from this classification. The site is referenced in the base Mérimée and associated with the commune of Saint-Rigomer-des-Bois, although sources also mention Villeneuve-en-Perseigne, reflecting an sometimes ambiguous location.

In the 18th century, castles in this region often served as residences for the local aristocracy or administrative centres for agricultural estates. Their architecture blended functionality and aesthetics, with sober facades and outbuildings organized around a courtyard. These buildings played a key role in the rural economy, centralizing land and resource management, while symbolizing the power of landowners in a society still highly hierarchical.

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