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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Oratorian Seminary, also known as the Oratory College, was founded in Le Mans in the early seventeenth century. Originally built in 1599 in the Faubourg Saint-Ouest-des-Fossés, it became an educational institution after a fire had destroyed several houses in the neighbourhood. Bishop Claude d'Angennes, bishop of Le Mans, officially founded the seminary in 1601 after agreements with Pope Clement and Henry IV. The first principal, Master Michel Aubourg, doctor of theology and parish priest of Marolles-les-Braults, was appointed the same year. The college then depended on the bishop and was financed by taxation on the diocesan clergy and municipal donations.

In 1624, after tensions with the Jesuits, Bishop Charles de Beaumanoir entrusted the College to the Oratorians. An agreement was signed on 20 July 1624 between the local clergy and this order, making teaching free and focused on humanities, ancient languages, philosophy and theology. The Oratorians settled permanently in October 1625. Under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Gault (1625-1640), the future bishop of Marseilles, the college enjoyed a remarkable growth, attracting students from various social backgrounds and emphasizing local history and the French language.

The chapel of the college, classified as a historical monument in 1982, is the only element still protected today. The building now houses the Montesquieu High School, heir to this centuries-old educational tradition. The seminar played a key role in the intellectual and religious formation of the region, while reflecting the social and political dynamics of Mans in the 17th century.

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