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All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

  2. Patrimoine
  3. Centre Val-de-Loire
  4. Indre-et-Loire
  5. 37390 Mettray

  6. Château du Petit-Bois

 Château du Petit-Bois à Mettray en Indre-et-Loire

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine défensif
Demeure seigneuriale
Château
Indre-et-Loire

Château du Petit-Bois

    Château du Petit-Bois
    37390 Mettray
Photo de Château du Petit-Bois
Crédit photo : Clarey-Martineau - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1700
1800
1900
2000
1660
First known mention
1824
Redevelopment of the area
1839
Foundation of the penal colony
1841
Reconstruction of the castle
4 juin 2012
Registration for historical monuments
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

The following parts of the castle, communes and landscaped park of Petit-Bois: the facades and roofs of the castle (see AK 23); the facades and roofs of the barn (see AK 23); the facades and roofs of the house known as the " metayer" (see AK 19); the facades and roofs of the stables (see AK 19); the park (AK 4-11, 18-25): registration by order of 4 June 2012

Key figures

Herman de Courteilles (vicomte Louis-Hermann de Bretignières) - Owner and co-founder Reconstruct the castle and establish the colony
Guillaume Abel Blouet - Architect Designs the castle and the commons
Gabriel Gitton - Former owner (1660) First historical mention of the estate

Origin and history

The Petit-Bois Castle, located in Metray (Indre-et-Loire), is a 19th-century building listed as a historical monument since 2012. It was rebuilt in 1841 by Viscount Louis-Hermann de Bretignières de Courteilles, co-founder of the agricultural and prison colony of Metray, according to plans of architect Guillaume Abel Blouet. The latter, known for his work on the colony, also designed the Italianistic commons of the estate.

Prior to this reconstruction, the estate belonged to several notable owners, including Gabriel Gitton (1660), Jean Barbotin (1703), and Louise-Renée de Fescan (1749). In 1824, Herman de Courteilles, heir to the estate, redeveloped the buildings and the park, using the labour of the prison colony for earthworks and development. The park, now restored, retains its original picturesque features: gazebos, ponds and bridges.

The castle and its outbuildings (grange, stables, farmhouse house) were protected by decree in 2012 for their facades, roofs and landscaped park. This site illustrates the social history of the 19th century, combining architectural heritage and innovative prison experience for the time. The Italian-style commons bear witness to the influence of Abel Blouet, an architect renowned for his institutional and prison work.

External links

Page Wikipedia
Page Monumentum