First mention of Laleuf XIVe siècle (milieu) (≈ 1450)
Land under Châteauroux.
1761
Construction of the castle
Construction of the castle 1761 (≈ 1761)
Main building built for the bourgeoisie.
XIXe siècle (1ère moitié)
Add gallery
Add gallery XIXe siècle (1ère moitié) (≈ 1865)
Front façade modification with gallery.
16 octobre 2009
Registration Historic Monument
Registration Historic Monument 16 octobre 2009 (≈ 2009)
Total protection of the castle and domain.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The entire castle; the reserve estate, in total (buildings, fence walls and doors, courtyards, old gardens and pond); the house called "the guardhouse" and the building depending, in its entirety (cf. P 62, 70-76): registration by order of 16 October 2009
Key figures
Jean-Nicolas Louis Durand - Theoretic architect
Inspired the neoclassical composition of the domain.
Origin and history
Laleuf Castle, located in Saint-Maur in Indre, is an emblematic monument of the second half of the eighteenth century. It embodies the architecture of the "houses of the fields" built by the affluent provincial bourgeoisie, with a rectangular structure on two levels, a symmetrical facade and a tile cover. Although its construction dates back to 1761, some elements such as the side pavilions or the front gallery could date from the 19th century, reflecting later additions.
The land of Laleuf, mentioned from the 14th century as part of the fief de Châteauroux, now houses an agricultural estate called the Reserve. The latter illustrates a rational and standardized composition, inspired by the neo-classical principles and theoretical models of Jean-Nicolas Louis Durand. The buildings, courtyards, gardens and fence walls, protected since 2009, bear witness to a methodical organization specific to the agricultural estates of the time.
The castle and its estate, registered at the Historic Monuments in 2009, also include a house called the Garderie and its outbuildings. These elements, as well as the pond and the old gardens, form a coherent whole, representative of both the bourgeois habitat of the eighteenth century and neo-classical agricultural innovations. However, the accuracy of its location remains poor depending on available sources.
