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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Petit-Béru mansion, located in Vallon-sur-Gée in the Sarthe, is a typical example of the seigneurial residence of the late 15th century. It was rebuilt around 1490 by Pierre de Champagne, lord of Vallon, on the remains of an ancient fortified house destroyed by the English during the Hundred Years War. The site then retained moat and a closed enclosure, defensive elements characteristic of this troubled period. The manor is distinguished by its two-sided dardian roof, a cylindrical staircase turret, and two truncated turrets in a rear façade, reflecting Renaissance military civil architecture.

In 1594 Jehanne Guillart, lady of Mortier and Béru, obtained permission to strengthen the manor house to protect himself from troubles affecting Maine County under Henry IV. However, this period of insecurity forced Jehanne Guillart and her husband, Jehan de Bricquemault, to sell the estate in 1604 to repay their debts. The new owners, Jacques Regnauldin and his wife Marie Fougeu, undertook major renovations, including the reconstruction of the salette and kitchen, as well as the upgrading of the floors and the maintenance of the existing fortifications.

The Petit-Béru mansion also illustrates the evolution of the uses of seigneurial spaces: the court of honor, framed by agricultural outbuildings with various functions, and a terraced garden overlooking a water room, remains of a pond formerly fed by the brook of the Rigaudières. These developments demonstrate a transition between the medieval defensive vocation and the residential comfort of the modern era. Ranked a historic monument in 1976, the site preserves remarkable elements such as its facades, fireplaces, and interior staircase, as well as the roofs of the communes.

The history of the mansion is closely linked to the social and economic dynamics of the Sarthe. In the 16th century, local lords, often indebted, had to adapt their homes to security requirements while maintaining a life course compatible with their status. The sale of the Petit-Béru in 1604 for 9,500 pounds and 90 pounds of wine reveals the financial stakes of the provincial aristocracy, while the works undertaken by the Regnauldin show a desire for modernization, typical of the late Renaissance in the Pays de la Loire.

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