Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The château des Hunaudières is a neo-classical building located in Mulsanne, Sarthe department, Pays de la Loire region. Built in the 18th and 19th centuries, it replaces a former seigneurial mansion whose estate extended over Mulsanne and Arnage. This area included farmland, fir forests and moors, but was fragmented at the end of the Old Regime for financial reasons, leaving the former manor house abandoned.

At the end of the 18th century, a new castle was erected in a cossu and neo-classical style, with a three-storey house body, a mansard floor and two wings in return. Access is via a long driveway lined with trees from the famous Hunaudières straight line, emblematic of the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit. The castle overlooks a courtyard adorned with a flowered parterre, and its facades, roofs and interior decorations have been listed as historical monuments since 1966.

Private property, the castle is not open to the public but hosts exclusive events, especially organized by local companies like Ligier Automotive. Since its acquisition by Everspeed, the holding company of Jacques Nicolet (founder of Ligier), the site is being transformed into a high-end hotel structure. In 2019, a reception room for 200 people and ten rooms were already operational. The project includes 30 rooms for 2023, the year of the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as eco-lodges on the 12 hectares of land attached to the estate.

The Hunaudières Castle thus embodies a unique blend of architectural heritage and automotive passion, reflecting the Sarthe's industrial and sporting history. Its listing in the Inventory of Historic Monuments highlights the value of its facades and interiors, while its location in the heart of the circuit makes it an emblematic place for motor racing enthusiasts.

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