Initial construction XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
Period of construction of the original castle.
1699
Portal dated
Portal dated 1699 (≈ 1699)
Year engraved on the entrance gate.
XIXe siècle
Major transformations
Major transformations XIXe siècle (≈ 1865)
Additions and Pavilion dated 1867.
27 octobre 1971
Registration MH
Registration MH 27 octobre 1971 (≈ 1971)
Portal protection by Historic Monuments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The entrance portal (Case AD 33): registration by order of 27 October 1971
Key figures
Honoré de Balzac - Writer
Inspired from the castle for *The Lys in the valley*.
Origin and history
Château de la Chevrière, located in Saché (Indre-et-Loire), is a 16th-century building listed as a historical monument since October 27, 1971. This place, a former Colombian dependent fief, inspired Honoré de Balzac in Le Lys in the valley, where it serves as a model for the castle of Clochegourde, combining features of the nearby mansion of Vonnes. Its architecture, marked by an entrance door framed with pilasters and surmounted by a triangular pediment, reflects successive transformations, notably in the 18th century with two building bodies, and in the 19th century with a pavilion dated 1867.
The courtyard of the castle features two polygonal scalds, while servitude buildings, extended by a square pavilion, frame the entrance. The gate, dating from 1699, is the element protected by the 1971 inscription, along with subsequent additions like a barn of the mid-19th century. Although modified over the centuries, the site retains traces of its seigneurial past, while illustrating the evolution of architectural tastes between Renaissance and modern times.
Balzac anchored this castle in literature by assigning it a romantic dimension, mixing reality and fiction. The site, now known for its literary history and architectural transformations, remains a testament to the links between built heritage and artistic creation in the 19th century. The available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) highlight its dual heritage: historical monument and source of literary inspiration.
