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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The insanity of the Gibraye is a castle built in the 18th century in Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, in the Loire-Atlantique. The estate, originally owned by André de La Tullaye in 1588, and then by Jean Imbert in 1688, was acquired in 1738 by the Mérot family, tanners. The present residence, attributed to architect Jean-Baptiste Ceineray, was built in 1763 for Jean-Baptiste Mérot, a councillor in the parliament of Brittany. The estate, confiscated during the Revolution, was returned to the Mérot after this period.

During World War I, the castle served as a shelter for American soldiers. During the Second World War, he was requisitioned by the German army, which stored powder and ammunition in the chapel, used as a firing range. Ranked a historic monument in 1983, the castle was restored several times, notably in 1992. Although private property, it is accessible during Heritage Days.

The estate, initially spread over 24 hectares, is now reduced to 1.3 hectares. In 2015, the construction of a building in front of the chapel was criticized for having distorted the landscape. The owners denounce political manoeuvres behind this authorization. The castle remains an architectural and historical testimony of the Pays de la Loire region.

The main building is 44 meters long by 8 meters wide. The protected elements include facades, roofs, the entrance gate with its wrought iron gate, the dining room fountain and the entire chapel. The castle has known several owners, including Bernard Dugast since 1986.

Available sources, including Wikipedia and Monumentum, confirm its status as a historic monument and its heritage importance. The madness of the Gibraye illustrates the architectural and social evolution of the Loire-Atlantique, between the fascists of the eighteenth century and the vicissitudes of modern conflicts.

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