Construction of railway station 1935 (≈ 1935)
Built by S.T.A.O. in reinforced concrete.
2008
Registration historical monument
Registration historical monument 2008 (≈ 2008)
Protection of the façade and rotunda.
juillet 2013
Closing as bus station
Closing as bus station juillet 2013 (≈ 2013)
Replaced by the multimodal pole.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The façade on the Avenue du Général-Leclerc and the corresponding roof; the two corridors of arrival and departure of the coaches with their concrete structure with glass cobblestones; the rotunda proper and the span that succeeds it (cf. CX 174, cf. plan annexed to the Order): registration by order of 10 October 2008
Key figures
Société des transports automobiles de l'Ouest (S.T.A.O.) - Sponsor and operator
Long distance transport flagship network.
Connex (groupe Verney) - Former owner (years 2000)
Purchaser before resale to promoter.
Origin and history
The railway station of the S.T.A.O. (Société des transports automobiles de l'Ouest) was built in 1935 in Le Mans, on Avenue du Général-Leclerc, near the SNCF station. This iconic building, designed in reinforced concrete, is distinguished by its central rotunda covered with a glass-paved dome and its lateral corridors illuminated by glass-barred concrete slabs. It was the only terminal for the toll buses in the Sarthois network until 2013, when it was replaced by the station's multimodal hub.
Ranked a historic monument in 2008 for its façade, roof, corridors and rotunda, the car park underwent a radical transformation after its acquisition by a real estate developer. The Patio-Rivoli project retained only 500 m2 of the original avenue-side structure, including the facade and the dome, while the back was demolished to give way to a building of 30 dwellings and underground parking. Not all decorative elements, such as cartridges bearing the inscription "STAO", have been restored, altering the initial architectural balance.
Originally, the car park symbolized the modernisation of transport in the Pays de la Loire, reflecting the rise of road networks in the 1930s. Its innovative structure, combining functionality and aesthetic Art Deco, made it a model for the bus stations of the time. After 2013, its transport vocation ceased, but its inscription in historical monuments saved part of this industrial heritage, despite the controversial contemporary developments.
Today, the building illustrates the tensions between heritage preservation and real estate pressure. The protected facade, with its metal gates and dome, recalls the golden age of collective transport in Sarthe, while the rear reconstructed housing questions the coherence of rehabilitation projects. The archives also mention an aborted project of transformation into commercial space for the former part preserved.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review