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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Villaines Castle, located in Louplande in the Sarthe department, is a 17th century building built on the remains of an ancient 12th century fortress. This monument combines classical architecture and defensive elements inherited from the Middle Ages, like the moat and their bridge, still visible today. The site has been partially listed as a historical monument since 1984, and its 15.2 hectare park, classified since 1967, benefits from the remarkable Garden label.

The land of Villaines, originally owned by the family of Gaignon, was acquired in 1776 by the Marquis of Aux, giving his name temporarily to the castle. At the end of the 19th century, the estate regained its original name. During the First World War, he served as a training centre for American military chaplains. During World War II, he was occupied by German troops in 1940.

The castle is also linked to literature: Honoré de Balzac is located there, in Madame Firmiani, the property of Octave de Camps, forced to sell it to the Black Band, a speculative group of the 19th century. The legal protections cover facades, roofs, wrought iron stairway, as well as the leak (pigeon tree), testifying to its heritage importance.

Protected architectural features also include moat and their bridge, while the park, with an area of 15.2 hectares, is classified for its landscape value. The garden, distinguished by the remarkable Garden label, reinforces the tourist and historical appeal of the site, anchored in the Sarthois and Ligerian heritage.

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