Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The provost of Saint-Laurent-du-Mottay is a listed historical monument located in the centre of the municipality of the same name, in Pays de la Loire. Built in the 16th century, it is distinguished by its large court room, whose fireplace is decorated with carved medallions depicting a scene of Annunciation. The ceiling, composed of fluted soles, includes a central beam decorated with thirty medallions depicting fantastic creatures. This building illustrates the civil and judicial architecture of the Renaissance in Anjou.

Classified as historical monuments in 1968 for its large hall and interior decoration, the provost is also listed for its facades and roofs in the same year. Today, it hosts the municipal services of Saint-Laurent-du-Mottay, demonstrating its adaptation to contemporary needs while preserving its architectural heritage. Its official address, according to the Merimée base, is linked to the Place du Général-de-Gaulle, although sources also mention an approximate location on Rue de la Prévoté.

The building reflects the role of the provosts under the Old Regime, where these institutions combined judicial, administrative and sometimes tax functions at the local level. The richness of its interior decoration suggests the symbolic and practical importance of this place to the community, as well as the prestige associated with seigneurial or royal justice in Anjou during the Renaissance. No information is available on any sponsors or artisans who have worked on its construction or decoration.

External links