Domaine de Chassetière
ManorHidden Treasure
Domaine de Chassetière, located in Notre-Dame-d'Oé (Indre-et-Loire), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Manor
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Notre-Dame-d'Oé, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.4473, 0.6919
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00097898
On the outskirts of Tours, this early 18th-century manor house boasts sober, refined elegance, with its paved main courtyard and formal garden opening onto intimate wooded grounds.
© Wikimedia Commons / Wikipedia
History
Nestling in the commune of Notre-Dame-d'Oé, on the northern outskirts of Tours, Domaine de la Chassetière is one of the few manor houses in the Touraine area to have preserved the integrity of its 18th-century layout. Far from the ostentatious splendour of some of the Loire châteaux, its architectural sobriety is not without charm: balanced proportions, controlled symmetry and local materials blend the building into the landscape of northern Touraine. What sets La Chassetière apart from many contemporary buildings is the remarkable coherence of its architectural ensemble. The manor house itself, flanked by two non-protruding pavilions, interacts with its outbuildings to form a harmonious architectural whole. The main courtyard to the east, the outbuildings to the north, the easements to the south and the formal garden to the west make up a classic but perfectly orchestrated layout, where each element responds to a functional as much as an aesthetic logic. Informed visitors will appreciate the quality of the eastern façade, which opens onto the courtyard of honour: this is where the manor house is traditionally approached, in accordance with the codes of the French aristocratic residence of the late Grand Siècle. The date 1720, engraved on one of the doors, is a discreet reminder of the founding act of this architectural venture. To the west, the formal garden provides a gentle transition between the built architecture and the wooded parkland that follows. This in-between space, typical of the landscape compositions of the early eighteenth century, invites you to take a stroll, where the geometry of the flowerbeds gradually gives way to the freer nature of the undergrowth. For photographers and heritage lovers alike, the late afternoon light, shining down on the main façade, reveals all the finesse of the Touraine stonework.
Architecture
The Chassetière estate features the sober, elegant architecture of a classical manor house dating from the early 18th century, typical of quality provincial architecture during the Regency period. The main building has a regular rectangular floor plan, framed by two pavilions that do not protrude from the facades: these do not break up the overall plan but punctuate the elevations with a discreet rhythm, avoiding monotony without sacrificing the unity of the whole. The main east facade, facing the main courtyard, is the public face of the manor house. It is in keeping with the French tradition of the residence between courtyard and garden, popularised by the architects of the Grand Siècle. The materials used are those of Touraine construction: white tufa for the quoins, window frames and sculpted details, lime render for the infill, and Anjou slate for the roofs with their characteristic Loire slope. To the north, a service building organises domestic life - kitchen and utility rooms - in a rational layout typical of the grand residences of the century. To the south, the pavilion added in the 19th century blends in seamlessly thanks to its measured scale and strict alignment with the original manor house. To the west, the formal garden, laid out in geometric parterres according to the principles in force at the time, acts as a transition between the built architecture and the wooded parkland. This landscaping, typical of early eighteenth-century French compositions, gives the estate its visual depth and its dimension as a country residence as much as a prestigious residence.
Related Figures
René Le Gras — inspecteur des fermes générales, seigneur de la Chassetière, commanditaire du manoir vers 1720Les seigneurs médiévaux de la Chassetière — tenanciers du fief relevant du château de Tours et des Grandes BrossesLes propriétaires du XIXe siècle — responsables de l'extension méridionale et de l'entretien du domaineLes services des Monuments Historiques — artisans de l'inscription protectrice de 1947
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Domaine de Chassetière located?
Domaine de Chassetière is located in Notre-Dame-d'Oé, Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Domaine de Chassetière built?
Domaine de Chassetière dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Domaine de Chassetière open to visitors?
Domaine de Chassetière is currently closed to visitors.
