Domaine de la Noue (également sur commune de Mozé-sur-Louet)
MonumentHidden Treasure
Domaine de la Noue (également sur commune de Mozé-sur-Louet), located in Denée (Maine-et-Loire), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Denée, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.3792, -0.5964
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00135547
An elegant 17th–18th-century Angevin estate, the Domaine de la Noue was transformed in 1889 by the collector Alfred Jubien, combining classical Loire Valley architecture with the refinement of a cabinet of curiosities.
History
Nestling between Denée and Mozé-sur-Louet, on the edge of Anjou's Loire Valley, Domaine de la Noue embodies with rare integrity the figure of the clos angevin, that form of aristocratic rural housing unique to Anjou, where the manor house and its outbuildings form an enclosed ensemble that is both functional and representative. Far from the gaudy splendour of the great castellanies, La Noue captivates with its sovereign discretion: a sober, proportionate main building, local materials - limestone tufa and blue slate - set against a landscape of gentle hills and vineyards. What makes this estate truly unique is the way it evolved in the 19th century, when collector Alfred Jubien took possession of it and began developing it from 1889 onwards. This man of taste infused it with the spirit of an artful interior, combining objets d'art, antique furniture and travel souvenirs in the measured volumes of a residence that, fortunately, the fashion for conversion has not disfigured. In this way, the estate retains an architectural coherence that is rare for a rural property that has survived several centuries. A visit to the estate is like stepping back in time: the classical facades and slate roofs interact with the enclosed garden, where the meticulous views reveal the care that successive owners have taken with the setting as much as with the buildings. The subdued, golden Anjou light is particularly conducive to architectural photography and drawing. Situated just a few kilometres from Rochefort-sur-Loire and the Layon valley, the estate is part of an exceptional wine-growing region, inviting visitors to extend their stay by exploring the Coteaux du Layon vineyards and the typical villages of the Val d'Anjou. A discreet monument, listed as a Historic Monument since 1995, which rewards those who are curious and off the beaten track.
Architecture
Domaine de la Noue is an accomplished example of the "clos angevin", a regional architectural style characterised by a main building flanked by outbuildings arranged in a U-shape or quadrilateral around a semi-enclosed courtyard. The dwelling, most likely built of tuffeau - the white limestone quarried from the cliffs of the Loire - features carefully ordered facades: windows with moulded architraves, eaves highlighting the levels, pedimented dormers on the roof. The roof, covered in Anjou blue slate, gives the building its characteristic dark hue, in stark contrast to the whiteness of the walls. The layout of the dwelling follows the classic layout of rural homes in Anjou during the Grand Siècle: a long, two-storey building with a habitable attic lit by dormer windows, built around a central staircase with a wrought-iron or turned-wood banister. The interiors, fitted out or enhanced by Alfred Jubien in 1889, are likely to have retained the wood panelling, sculpted tufa fireplaces and painted decorations characteristic of the transition between the Second Empire and Art Nouveau. The entire estate, which spans the two communes of Denée and Mozé-sur-Louet, incorporates landscape features - an enclosed garden, an orchard and perhaps a dovecote - making it a microcosm of Anjou's traditional economy and aesthetic. The great stylistic coherence of the buildings, which, according to Merimerian sources, were little altered in the 19th century, is one of its most valuable heritage assets.
Related Figures
Alfred Jubien — collectionneur et aménageur du domaine en 1889Propriétaires nobles angevins des XVIIe-XVIIIe siècles (bâtisseurs du corps de logis)Artisans carriers et ardoisiers de Trélazé — fournisseurs des matériaux de construction
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Domaine de la Noue (également sur commune de Mozé-sur-Louet) located?
Domaine de la Noue (également sur commune de Mozé-sur-Louet) is located in Denée, Maine-et-Loire department, Pays de la Loire region, France.
When was Domaine de la Noue (également sur commune de Mozé-sur-Louet) built?
Domaine de la Noue (également sur commune de Mozé-sur-Louet) dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Domaine de la Noue (également sur commune de Mozé-sur-Louet) open to visitors?
Domaine de la Noue (également sur commune de Mozé-sur-Louet) is currently closed to visitors.