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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Terrebasse Castle, located in Ville-sous-Anjou in the Isère department, is a building whose origins date back to the 15th–12th centuries, but which was profoundly transformed in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the 18th century, important works gave it its present silhouette: a central body was built, framed by the old south wing (15th–12th centuries) and a new north wing, which remained unfinished. The gardens and the park are then recomposed with a French terrace and gardens, reflecting the taste of the era for orderly and symmetrical spaces.

In 1789, the castle was looted before being sold, marking a period of decline. In the 19th century, several restoration and development campaigns were carried out: the roof was rebuilt in 1844, the entrance to the park was moved in 1849 with the construction of two pavilions, and outbuildings ( stables, garage, hangar) were rebuilt in 1869. The interior, however, is largely redesigned, retains French ceilings and 18th century woodwork. In 1904, a zipline coating was applied to the facades, completing the major transformations of the site.

The castle and its park, including outbuildings and enclosure walls, have been listed as historical monuments since 24 June 1992. This classification protects an architectural and landscape set representative of stylistic and functional evolutions between the 18th and 19th centuries. The preserved elements, such as the main staircase decorated in 1890 or the factories of the park, testify to the adaptation of the estate to the needs and tastes of its successive owners.

Although the sources do not explicitly mention its current use, Terrebasse Castle remains a remarkable example of the iserois castral heritage, mixing medieval heritage and modern transformations. Its history reflects the political and social upheavals of the French Revolution, as well as the rise of aristocratic and then bourgeois residences in the 19th century. The accuracy of its location (1 Route des Baudes) and its registration in the general inventory (Mérimée base) make it a documented site, accessible for study and visit.

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