Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Montaigu pyramid is one of the four pyramids of the Loches forest, built in the 1770s to serve as rallying points for hunting crews. These stone monuments, aligned along the Georges-d'Amboise forest road, were erected after the opening of this road in 1769. Their construction was decided by the Grand Master of the waters and forests Cabanel d'Anglure, inspired by Colbert's recommendations in 1699 to facilitate travel in the royal forests.

The pyramid of Montaigu is distinguished by its cubic base adorned with frames, supporting a slender pyramid crowned with a sphere. It owes its name to its proximity to the former fief de Montaigu, located in the neighbouring commune of Genillé. Like the other pyramids, it was classified as a historical monument in 1956, highlighting its heritage importance and its link to the cynegetic history of the region.

These buildings reflect the organization of royal and aristocratic hunting under the Ancien Régime, where the forest of Loches was a privileged territory for this activity. Their alignment along a forest road also illustrates the methodical planning of natural spaces for practical and symbolic purposes.

The pyramid of Montaigu, with its three sisters, bears witness to the 18th century utilitarian architecture, mixing functionality and aesthetics. Their preservation now allows us to study the social practices and construction techniques of the time, while offering a remarkable visual heritage in the heart of the forest.

Their inscription in historical monuments between 1956 and 1958 allowed to protect these buildings, often unknown but emblematic of the French forest and cynegetic heritage. Their present state of conservation varies, with some having benefited from restorations, such as the recent reconstruction of the summit sphere of the Chartreux pyramid.

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