Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Cour-au-Berruyer, located in Cheillé (Indre-et-Loire), finds its origins in the 12th century with a defensive vocation under the Berruyer family, mentioned in 1170 with Philippe Berruyer as the first known lord. The site evolves over the centuries, passing into the hands of noble families such as the Le Simple, the de Mondion, or the Rocheforts, which mark its history with successive alliances and inheritances. The present castle, built in the 3rd quarter of the 16th century, preserves Renaissance elements such as stone windows, monumental chimneys, and a gallery on arcades, reflecting the architectural influence of the Henry II era.

Ranked Historical Monument in two stages (registration in 1932 for the castle and its entrance pavilion, classification in 1942 for the mansion), the estate illustrates a complex historical stratification. His notable owners included Louise-Élisabeth Vau de Rivière (d. 1822), whose descendants passed the castle on to families such as the Dujon, Monteynard, or Ferry du Pommier. In the 20th century, it passed to the Goüin, Ségur-Lamonion, then to the Gradis and Leroy-Beaulieu by inheritance. Its plan combines a main house body, a stair tower, and a former Renaissance mansion with pilaster-framed windows.

The building thus mixes medieval traces (donjon, entrance work) and Renaissance additions, testifying to the transformations linked to its successive owners. The protections under the Historic Monuments underline its heritage value, while its location in Touraine, a region marked by a dense concentration of castles, reinforces its historical interest. The sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) confirm its role as seigneurial residence, then as private property preserved until today.

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