Construction of the castle 1646 (≈ 1646)
Built on a terrace with water moats.
2011
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 2011 (≈ 2011)
Protection of facades, interiors and moats.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The facades and roofs of the castle, pavilions and commons, of the tower; the kitchen, the dairy, the dining room, the staircase with its cage, the antechamber, the living room and the bathroom with their decor; moat with its retaining walls; the base ground of the building site, the large driveway from the southwest, the large driveway to the north with the gate (see Box B 224, 239-246, 250, 285): registration by order of 24 August 2011
Origin and history
The castle of Courcival, located in the eponymous commune of Sarthe (Pays de la Loire), was built in 1646 according to a terraced plan, still lined with moats in water today. This monument illustrates the aristocratic residential architecture of the 2nd quarter of the 17th century, with a spatial organization typical of the castles of this time, mixing defensive (douve) and aesthetic (terraces). The interiors, although partially redesigned, retain remarkable elements such as the original kitchens and dairy, as well as an 18th-century living room and a bathroom entirely covered in faience, rare example of this type.
The main staircase, adorned with a wrought iron railing, serves rooms with superimposed decorations, especially in the dining room, where there is an 18th and 19th century decor representing hunting scenes. These stylistic strata testify to the changes in taste over the centuries, while emphasizing the desire to modernize successive owners. The moat and its retaining walls, as well as the access aisles (including the large south-west and north driveway with its gate), have been among the protected elements since the castle's inscription in the Historic Monuments in 2011.
The castle, now owned by a private company, retains part of its original outbuildings (pavillons, commons, tower), whose facades and roofs are also classified. Its state of conservation makes it possible to understand both the domestic organisation of a seigneurial home (with dedicated spaces such as the dairy) and subsequent adaptations, such as adding neoclassical or romantic decors. The absence of sources on its first owners or sponsors, however, limits the knowledge of its social and political history.
The location of the castle (approximate address: 5052 B La Basse Cour, 72110 Courcival) is documented in the Merimée base, with a geographical accuracy deemed satisfactory (level 7/10). The photographs available, such as Smoke It (2013) licensed under Creative Commons, show a building in good condition, although the practical information (visits, rentals, guest rooms) is not specified in the sources consulted. The Insee code of the municipality (72102) links Courcival to the district of Le Mans, in a territory marked by a dense rural and seigneurial heritage.
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