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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de la Thomasserie, located in Vallières-les-Grandes in the Loir-et-Cher, is a hunting lodge built during the second half of the eighteenth century. It is distinguished by its U-shaped plan, with a courtyard façade and a park façade, all lined with water ditches. This monument, inscribed in historical monuments since 2009, preserves remarkable architectural and decorative elements, including a vestibule decorated with a painted ceiling depicting Diane's tank surrounded by allegories of the seasons.

The central body of the castle houses a large vestibule flanked by living rooms, a library and a dining room. The latter preserves wooden panels and closets probably dating back to the early 18th century. The wings, originally dedicated to the commons (granges, stables, stakes), were partially transformed in the 19th century and in the 1920s to expand the living spaces, with the addition of a level and orangery. Among the interior decorations, two royal portraits painted on the chimneys depict Louis XIV and Louis XV, inspired by works by Hyacinthe Rigaud and Jean-Baptiste Van Loo.

The complex protected by the 2009 inscription includes the central house body with its decorations, the facades and roofs of the wings, as well as the access deck and the masonated moats. The castle illustrates the evolution of a hunting residence in seigneurial residence, mixing elements from the 17th and 18th centuries. Its painted decoration, including the ceiling of the vestibule, is considered rare or even unique in the Centre-Val de Loire region.

The estate is organized around two courses: one dedicated to the commons, built in the 19th century, and the other forming the court of honor. The buildings of the communes, located in the U, originally housed functional spaces such as stables or staff quarters. The exact address of the castle, according to the Merimée base, is 133 La Thomasserie, 41400 Vallières-les-Grandes, in the department of Loir-et-Cher, in the region Centre-Val de Loire.

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