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Origin and history

The pyramid of Saint Quentin is part of a set of four stone monuments erected in the forest of Loches in the 3rd quarter of the 18th century. These buildings, aligned along the Georges-d The pyramid of Saint-Quentin, the most western of the four, is distinguished by its moulure square base and its truncated pyramid surmounted by a sphere. It marks the communal boundary with Saint-Quentin-sur-Indrois.

The construction of these pyramids was decided by the great master of the waters and forests Cabanel d'Anglure, inspired by a recommendation of Colbert in 1699 which advocated the erection of landmarks in the royal forests. The pyramid of Saint-Quentin, like its consœurs, was classified as a historical monument in 1958, after those of Genillé, Montaigu and des Chartreux (1956). Their architecture, although similar in general, presents unique decorative details for each building.

These monuments testify to the importance of the Loches forest as a preferred hunting ground under the Old Regime. Their alignment along a forest road opened in 1769 reflects a desire for spatial organization and signposting for cynegetic activities. Today, they constitute a remarkable historical and architectural heritage of the Centre-Val de Loire region.

The pyramid of Saint-Quentin consists of a square base decorated with mouldings, surmounted by a pedestal in corbellation that supports the pyramid itself. Its location, at the border of Ferriere-sur-Beaulieu and Saint-Quentin-sur-Indrois, makes it a territorial marker as much as a vestige of the aristocratic practices of the eighteenth century.

Unlike other pyramids, the Saint-Quentin pyramid does not have a girouette or hexagonal base, but retains a sober and elegant structure. Its designation as historical monuments in 1958 allowed its preservation, although some decorative elements, such as the sommital sphere, could be restored over time.

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