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Origin and history

The manor house of La Côte, located in Reugny in Indre-et-Loire, is a 16th century mansion built in 1529 under François I. He replaced a former disappeared mansion, whose first known lord, Marcirion, lived in 1480. The fief then passed to Jean de La Rüe, notary and secretary of the king, then to his widow Perrine Le Fuzelier, who gave him in 1535 to their son Marc de La Rüe, master of petitions and mayor of Tours. The estate changed hands several times, notably to the Forget families, Clozeau, and Rouillé, before being acquired in 1721 by Charles-Jacques de La Martellière, Musketeer of Louis XV.

The manor architecture, mid-medieval and mid-renaissance, reflects its many transformations. The southern building, dating from the late 15th century, is extended to the 16th century by east and west wings. In the 17th century, the shingles were replaced by small tiles, and minor restorations were carried out in the 19th century. The estate also includes a 16th century chapel, an 18th century dovecote, and a portal of the same period. Joined in 1930 and ranked in 1989, it is now owned by the Besnier family.

The fief de La Côte was a châtellenie de Reugny and had a succession of influential owners, including mayors of Tours, royal officers, and aristocrats. In the 18th century, it passed into the hands of the Valleteau de Chabrefy, then of Piteurs-Hiegaerts, before being passed on to the family of Warenghien de Flory. Since 1970, the mansion has belonged to the Besnier family, perpetuating its historical and architectural heritage.

The manor is distinguished by its terraced position on a hillside, overlooking the Brenne valley. Its Renaissance decoration and its history linked to the nobility of the Tourangelle and the royal institutions make it a remarkable testimony to the architectural and social evolution of the region between the 15th and 18th centuries.

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