Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Buildings du Gué, located in Sainte-Flaive-des-Loups in Vendée (Pays de la Loire), form a seigneurial ensemble whose origins date back to at least the thirteenth century, when seigneurie was mentioned for the first time. The current home was built in the second half of the 15th century, marking a period of architectural development for this property linked to the local aristocracy. The interior fittings, especially the painted decorations, were redone around 1640 and then at the end of the seventeenth century, reflecting the evolution of the tastes and needs of the occupants over the centuries.

The site configuration includes, in addition to the home, ditches, gardens and a portion of the adjacent creek, the whole being protected by a registration order under the Historic Monuments since 28 August 1995. This protection also covers associated cadastral parcels (F2 447, 448, 617 to 621), highlighting the heritage importance of the site. Although the precise location is considered "passable" (note 5/10), the available data make it possible to identify the site as Great Metairie, in the commune of Sainte-Flaive-des-Loups.

The history of the buildings of the Gué is part of the broader context of the seigneuries of the Vendees, where these ensembles played a central role in the local social and economic organization. At the end of the Middle Ages, local lords, often linked to the petty nobility, had their residences built or remodeled to affirm their status, while integrating defensive or symbolic elements such as ditches. Subsequent modifications in the 17th century illustrate the adaptation of these spaces to the new architectural modes and comfort needs, typical of the modern era.

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