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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Logis de Ménil-Froger is a small seigneurial mansion erected at the end of the 15th century, probably under the impulse of Guillaume de La Buttonnière. The building adopts a square massed plan, typical of noble homes of that time, and has retained its original dispositions despite subsequent modifications. Inside, the 17th-century frame and a beamed ceiling with diamond ornaments reflect later evolutions, while the crusillon bays and prismatic mouldings of the facades reflect the flamboyant Gothic style. The house was under the patronage of Haubert du Ménil-Froger, dependent on the Barony of Nonant, stressing his status as a local seigneurial residence.

The monument was listed as a historic monument on June 9, 2000, but its state of conservation is considered "threatened". The protected elements are limited to the house itself (cadastre B 86), while additions such as the 18th century stairway, barn, and bread oven date from later periods. The precise location, 400 metres west of the village of Ménil-Froger (Orne), is documented in the Mérimée base, with an approximate address at 28 Le Logis. No information is available on its current accessibility (visits, accommodation).

Architecturally, the house is distinguished by its discovered gables and a sober ornamentation characteristic of the Norman rural mansions of the late Middle Ages. Although modest, this site offers a rare example of a full fief seigneurial residence that survived the changes of the following centuries. Its recent listing in the Historic Monuments underscores its heritage value, despite the risks to its sustainability. Available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) do not mention recent restorations or recovery projects.

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