Registration of the housing body 9 décembre 1926 (≈ 1926)
Protection for historical monuments.
12 décembre 1995
Registration of dependencies
Registration of dependencies 12 décembre 1995 (≈ 1995)
Courtyard, dovecote and retaining walls protected.
1997
Turning of the iron mask
Turning of the iron mask 1997 (≈ 1997)
Decor for the film with DiCaprio.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Registered MH
Key figures
Leonardo DiCaprio - Actor
Shot in the house in 1997.
Gérard Depardieu - Actor
Shot in the house in 1997.
Jeremy Irons - Actor
Shot in the house in 1997.
Origin and history
Le Logis de Fontenay is a mansion located in the commune of Fontenay-sur-Vègre, Sarthe department, in the Pays de la Loire region. This monument is part of the historical landscape of Maine, a region marked by its medieval and reborn architectural heritage. It dominates the valley of the Vègre, west of the village, and has been protected as historical monuments since the beginning of the 20th century.
The building has had a notable cultural recognition by serving as a setting for the film L的Homme au masquerade de fer (1997), featuring international actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Gérard Depardieu and Jeremy Irons. This cinematic choice has contributed to its reputation, although its own history remains less documented in accessible sources.
On the architectural level, the house consists of a main body registered since 1926, supplemented by dependencies (pigeon, retaining walls, courtyard) protected in 1995. These elements reflect a typical rural manor organization, combining residential and agricultural functions. The site is referenced in heritage bases like Mérimée, attesting to its importance in the Sarthian heritage.
The Maine region, where Fontenay-sur-Vègre is located, has long been a crossroads between Anjou, Normandy and Touraine, influencing its architectural development. Local manor houses, such as Fontenay, bear witness to this history, often linked to noble or bourgeois families that marked the territory. Their preservation makes it possible today to study the lifestyles and construction techniques of past times.
