Château de la Sauvagere dans la Sarthe

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

In the 13th century, the Château de la Sauvage found its roots, when Nicolas du Désert settled on a hillside on the left bank of the Renom, with the agreement of Johan de Belledaughter. Originally, it is a modest "country house" on one floor, built on clay. His descendants, including Guillaume du Désert, enlarged the home by adding a room and a guard tower. These first transformations mark the transition from a simple dwelling to a more defensive structure, adapted to the medieval era.

In the 15th century, the house evolved into a complete seigneurial house: a large attic on the second floor, a vaulted cellar, an underground and an oratory chapel communicating with the seigneurial chamber were arranged. A south-east wing, probably open on a level, completes the whole. These additions reflect the social ascent of the family and the adaptation of the building to residential and religious functions, typical of noble homes of the time.

The 16th century marked a turning point with the acquisition of the house by Charles Le Vayer, a lawyer at the Presidial of Le Mans. With his sons François (Lieutenant-General of Maine) and Pierre (Member of Parliament), he undertook important work: the house was doubled to reach the guard tower, a straight wooden staircase was installed, and the chapel was moved to form a defensive entrance tower. Communes and a monumental portal, now listed as historical monuments, are built in the forecourt. These changes illustrate the influence of the Italian Renaissance and the affirmation of the social status of the family.

In the 17th century, Denis Le Vayer, grandson of Charles and member of the Paris Parliament, married Elizabeth de La Rivière, daughter of a rich tax collector. After the Fronde, during which the castle was emptied of its furniture, the couple undertook new works: the north-west wing was developed to house the winery staff, and the windows and chimneys were modernized in a baroque style. These developments testify to the adaptation of the castle to a prosperous farm, centered on viticulture, and the aristocratic taste for comfort and aesthetics of the era.

The current buildings essentially retain their 17th century appearance. In the 19th century, the ruins of the "old castle" dating from the 15th century were removed, while a vast tree-lined driveway, the "Aisle du Mans", was created to connect the entrance gate to the road. This alley, destroyed in the 20th century, symbolized the opening of the estate on the outside. The entrance gate, registered with historical monuments since 1928, remains a remarkable vestige of this period.

In 2021, a judgment of the Judiciary Court of Le Mans recognized a servitude of passage on a carriageway, allowing the castle to regain access through its main entrance, thus underlining the heritage and historical importance of the site. This judgment also recalls the legal and social role of castles, often at the heart of land disputes and centuries-old rights of use.

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