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Origin and history

The Grand Courteille Manor House, located 3 km north of Bonchamp-lès-Laval in Mayenne, originates in the early 16th century. Built by Jean de Launay, a bourgeois and merchant of Laval, it is distinguished by a five-sided tower and by the openings of the sills or arms. Inside, carpentry partitions with towel folds and a granite pool testify to its architectural refinement. The fief, vassal de la Coconnière, gave to its holder privileges as a bench in the parish church.

The chapel, erected in 1631 south of the mansion, is marked by the I.H.S. monogram and a double gable. It was dedicated to two weekly Masses as early as 1636, but tensions arose in 1677 when the chaplain found his remuneration insufficient. A rent of 12 bushels of rye was then added. In 1745, Mr. Périer de la Bizardière, canon and owner, obtained permission to hold offices on Sundays and holidays in summer, despite an earlier ban.

The site, mentioned in 1413 as the mestairy of the Courteille, evolved into the seigneury of the Courtailles in the 17th century. The nearby stream, 750 meters long, feeds the estate. The tithes of the fief were perceived by the prior of Varennes-L The RAREI Gothic inscription, partially erased, remains a mystery in the tower of the mansion.

Architecturally, the mansion illustrates the transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, with defensive elements (round) and more decorated decorations (accolades, carpentry). The chapel, with its carved hearts and patted crosses, reflects the seigneurial piety of the time. The domain, passed into the hands of bourgeois and ecclesiastical families, embodies the social dynamics of the pre-revolutionary Mayenne.

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