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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Serrant, located in Saint-Georges-sur-Loire in the department of Maine-et-Loire, is an emblematic monument of the Pays de la Loire region. Built mainly in the 16th century in Renaissance style, it replaces a medieval castle in slate schist whose moat still remains today. This site was once a strong place monitoring the passage of the Loire, as evidenced by its fortifications.

Serrant's fief belonged to the family of Brie in the Middle Ages, who undertook fortifications authorized by Louis XI in 1481. In the 16th century, Péan de Brie and his son Charles I had a house built around a monumental staircase, but the works were interrupted by financial difficulties and family conflicts. The castle was not completed until the 17th century by Guillaume Bautru, who respected the original plans and added wings and a chapel.

In the 18th century, the castle passed into the hands of the Walsh family, French shipowners, who rearranged the interior and created an English park. Antoine Walsh acquired it in 1749 before selling it to his brother François-Jacques, who obtained the erection of the seigneury in the county in 1755. The Walsh modernized the castle and received Napoleon I in 1808, impressed by his staircase of honour.

In the 19th century, the family of La Tremoille, heiress of the Walsh, undertook important restorations under the direction of architect Lucien Magne, who installed modern equipment such as electricity and central heating. The castle housed a rich collection of furniture, archives and books, including the Duchâtel fonds, classified in 2001. Since 1954, it has been open to the public while remaining a private residence.

The castle of Serrant has been classified as a historical monument since 1948 for its facades, moats, central staircase and chapel, as well as for its furniture and archives. It embodies centuries of architectural and family history, combining Renaissance, classical and modern styles. Today, it is still maintained by the family of Merode-de-Ligne, which continues its cultural and historical heritage.

The building materials, such as the tuft for facades and the slate shale for towers, reflect the local resources of the Loire Valley. The English park, the outbuildings (orangerie, stables, dovecote) and the stained-glass windows restored in the 19th century complete this remarkable ensemble, witness to the artistic and social evolutions of Anjou.

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