Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château du Lude, located in the eponymous town of Sarthe (Pays de la Loire), finds its origins at the end of the 9th century with the construction of a fort of La Motte to protect itself from Viking incursions. Occupied from the Middle Ages, it became a strategic point at the borders of Maine, Anjou and Touraine. During the Hundred Years War, he was defended by the French and occupied by the English between 1425 and 1427, before being taken over by Ambroise de Loré.

In 1457 Jean Daillon, the chamberlain of Louis XI, acquired the castle and began his transformation into a marina with architect Jean Gendrot. The works, spread over half a century, gave birth to the façade François I (1520-1530), emblematic of the Renaissance. The castle welcomed illustrious guests such as Henry IV and Louis XIII, and the land of the Lude was erected in Duchy-Payrie in 1675. At the end of the 18th century, the Marquise de La Vieuville added a neoclassical wing, reorienting the building.

In the 19th century, the family of Talhouët, owner of the premises, carried out important restorations under the impulse of Marquis Auguste de Talhouët-Roy, Minister of Public Works in 1870. Architects Pierre-Félix Delarue and Henri Darcy add neogothic elements, such as the northern facade. The castle, partially classified in 1928, became famous for its sound and light (1958-1995) and its remarkable gardens, today animated by events such as the Gardeners' Day.

The gardens, classified as "Remarkable Garden", extend over six hectares and mix styles with French, English and romantic. Created in the 17th century on ancient fortifications, they incorporate a rose garden, a vegetable garden and a historic hydraulic system, including the eardrum, classified in 2022. The castle, still owned by Nicolaÿ's family, perpetuates its cultural heritage with summer events and literary prizes, such as the P.-J. Prize Redouté.

Inside the castle preserves treasures such as the 16th century studiolo, decorated by the Raphael school, or the Renaissance vestibule decorated with a medieval gissant. The 15th century vaulted kitchens, restored in 1993, and neoclassical lounges illustrate the evolution of tastes throughout the centuries. The Lude Castle thus embodies a unique synthesis of military history, aristocratic art of living and architectural innovations.

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