Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The mansion of the Grand'Cour, located in Saint-Avertin indre-et-Loire, is a building whose origins date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. It is distinguished by its tuffeau architecture, typical of the region, with a long building whose blind wall overlooks the street, while the garden facade, widely open, enjoys generous lighting. The estate, once surrounded by a wooded park, saw part of its land lotted in the 1970s, altering its original setting.

The history of the mansion is marked by the presence of the writer Jules Romans, who owned it from 1929 to 1972. It was under his auspices that several elements were inscribed in historical monuments, including the entrance door (1946) and the facades (1965). The orangery, built in the 19th century, houses an exceptional panoramic decor of 32 lites of wallpaper, discovered after 1992. This 1840s wallpaper represents the railway between Lyon and Saint-Étienne and was classified in 2000. It comes from the Manufacture Pignet and bears witness to the artistic innovations of the period.

The mansion also illustrates the social and urban transformations of the 20th century. Rached in 1992 in a degraded state, it has since undergone restorations which revealed unknown heritage elements, such as the old orangery heating system. Jules Romans had set up a summer work firm there, highlighting the link between this place and literary creation. Today, the mansion remains a testament to the interaction between architectural heritage, local history and cultural life.

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