Initial construction XIIIe ou début XIVe siècle (≈ 1404)
Presumed monastic origin of the barn.
Seconde moitié du XVIe siècle
Renovation of the frame
Renovation of the frame Seconde moitié du XVIe siècle (≈ 1675)
Internal structure dated from this period.
27 mars 2008
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 27 mars 2008 (≈ 2008)
Registration by ministerial decree.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The barn in full (Box ZI 31, Lot No. 3, cf. plan annexed to the order): inscription by order of 27 March 2008
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
Sources do not mention any historical actors.
Origin and history
The barn of the Bernay mansion, located in the commune of Montreuil-le-Chétif (Sarthe, Pays de la Loire), is a building probably dating back to the 13th or early 14th century. Its initial use seems to be linked to a monastic vocation, although the sources do not specify the religious order or the exact context of its foundation. The present structure retains architectural elements characteristic of this medieval period, particularly in its general conception.
The interior structure of the barn, on the other hand, is more precisely dated from the second half of the 16th century. This phase of construction or renovation marks an evolution in carpentry techniques, perhaps reflecting an adaptation to the agricultural or seigneurial needs of the time. The monument was entered in the inventory of Historic Monuments by order of 27 March 2008, thus protecting the entire barn (cadastre ZI 31, lot 3).
The location of the barn, in the Sarthe department, places this heritage in a territory marked by a strong rural and monastic history. Monastic barns often played a central role in the local economy, serving as storage, crop processing or redistribution centres for religious communities. Their preservation today offers a material testimony of agricultural activities and networks of medieval and reborn power.
