Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Grand Lucé Castle was built in 1760 by architect M. de Bayeux, between the town and a vast park. This castle from the 3rd quarter of the 18th century illustrates the classical architecture of the period, with a main house framed by a central fronton pavilion, commons organized in hemicycle, and a monumental orangery adjoining the stables. The set, made of cut stone (tuffeau) and covered with slate, reflects the local know-how and prestige of its sponsors.

During World War II, the castle was requisitioned as a military hospital by the Allies. At the end of the conflict, the American army handed him over to the city to install a sanatorium, before he became the property of the Sarthe General Council. In 1998, the complex (castle, gate, commons, orangery and park) was listed as historic monuments, recognizing its heritage value.

Subsequently sold to an American decorator, Timothy Corrigan, the castle retains remarkable interior elements, such as old fireplaces and woodwork. Its architecture, combining an honorary courtyard, landscaped park and agricultural buildings, reflects a harmonious design between residential, utility and aesthetic functions, characteristic of the large houses of the Sarthois Perch.

The 1998 protection covers not only the castle and its outbuildings ( stables, laundry, orangery), but also its park, stressing the importance of the whole in the local heritage. Today, the site remains an emblematic example of 18th-century civil architecture in Pays de la Loire, combining classical elegance and historical heritage.

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