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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Fontenay Manor House, located in Lignières-de-Touraine in Indre-et-Loire, is a building built between the 15th and 16th centuries. It was historically dependent on the seigneury of Rillé and was erected on the remains of an ancient Gallo-Roman villa. This manor is distinguished by its quadrangular enclosure flanked by two cylindrical towers, typical of the defensive architecture of this period.

The mansion was listed as a Historic Monument on March 6, 1947, recognizing its heritage value. Although the sources do not specify its exact use throughout the centuries, its structure suggests a function both residential and defensive, characteristic of the manors of Touraine during the Renaissance. The site is also integrated into a preserved natural environment, close to the valleys of Indre and the Old Cher.

The town of Lignières-de-Touraine, where the manor house stands, is marked by a remarkable historical and natural heritage. It is also home to the Saint-Martin church, classified in 2014, and is part of the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Natural Park. The territory, exposed to an altered ocean climate, experienced tragic events, such as the collision of two Allied bombers in 1944, recalling its role in recent history.

No detailed information is available on the successive owners of the manor house or on specific events taking place. Its early inscription (1947), however, bears witness to its importance in the local heritage, as well as the Romanesque frescoes of the nearby church, discovered in 2009. These elements highlight the cultural richness of Lignières-de-Touraine, between medieval heritage and Ligerian landscapes.

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