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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The château de la Grifferie, located in the commune of Luché-Pringé (Sarthe, Pays de la Loire), has its origins in the 17th century. Its construction was made possible thanks to the nearby tuft quarries, typical of the Loir hillsides. The main house, framed by two pavilions, fits into a courtyard of honour lined with symmetrical outbuildings with curved walls, reflecting the classical architecture of the era.

In the 18th century, the Marquis de la Galissonière modernized the facades of the castle, giving them a more elegant style. A century later, Foucault's marquise had the park built in the English landscape style, which was popular among the aristocracy. These successive transformations illustrate the evolution of the tastes and uses of noble residences between the Ancient Regime and the 19th century.

The excavations carried out at the beginning of the twentieth century by Adrien Percheron de Monchy, then owner, revealed the remains of a Gallo-Roman villa nearby. This discovery highlights the ancient occupation of the site, long before the building of the castle. Since 1976, parts of the building (façades, roofs, lounges and library) have been protected as historical monuments, preserving this architectural and landscaped heritage.

The castle is also distinguished by its geographical location, halfway between the towns of Luché and Lude, on the right bank of the Loir. This river, a historic route of communication, has played a key role in local development, notably through the exploitation of the tuffeau, a limestone emblematic of the region. The surrounding quarries provided materials for many buildings, including the Grifferie.

Today, the château de la Grifferie bears witness to both the seigneurial heritage of the Sarthe and the stylistic influences that marked the French aristocratic residences. Its park, its registered interior decorations and its stratified history make it a representative example of its heritage, between the Middle Ages, the modern era and the 19th century.

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