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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hélardière Manor House is a Breton style castle built mainly between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Located in Donges, in the Loire-Atlantique region of Pays de la Loire, it is distinguished by its characteristic architecture of this period, with a closed courtyard and elements such as a low seigneurial room with exposed structure and a chapel. The monument is located about 500 metres west of the village, close to modern industrial facilities (Donges Refinery, 130 metres south).

This mansion illustrates the successive construction campaigns of the time, visible in the diversity of its buildings. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments, which took place by decree of 29 March 2012, specifically concerns the seigneurial house and its chapel (in whole), as well as the facade and roof of the west wing. Legal protections cover representative architectural elements, such as the apparent structure of the lower hall, typical of the Breton seigneurial houses of the Renaissance.

The location of the manor, reported with a priori satisfactory accuracy (level 6/10), is referenced in the Mérimée database under the code Insee 44052 (common Donges). Although close to contemporary industrial infrastructures, the site retains a marked heritage interest, reflecting the evolution of landscapes between medieval heritage and modernity. No information is available on its current accessibility (visits, accommodation) in the sources consulted.

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