Immeuble dit le Nouveau Logis
MonumentHidden Treasure
Immeuble dit le Nouveau Logis, located in Candes-Saint-Martin (Indre-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
- Candes-Saint-Martin, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.2112, 0.0719
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00097610
A former holiday residence of the Archbishops of Tours, the Nouveau Logis de Candes-Saint-Martin is an elegant blend of medieval tower, Baroque pediment and moat, on a site that has been inhabited since Gallo-Roman times.
© Wikimedia Commons / Wikipedia
History
Perched at the confluence of the Vienne and Loire rivers, in one of the most beautiful villages in France, the Nouveau Logis de Candes-Saint-Martin is one of those discreet residences that conceal centuries of overlapping history. As the prestigious residence of the Archbishops of Tours, the building bears rare witness to the prelate's art of living under the Ancien Régime, in a setting that nature and man have shaped with equal generosity. What immediately sets the Nouveau Logis apart is the boldness of its baroque pediment, a welcome anomaly in a Loire Valley that tended towards the sober lines of the classical Renaissance. Overlooking a three-sided terrace that boldly juts out towards the valley, this south-facing façade is a veritable architectural tableau, framed by two wings set at right-angles to each other that form an intimate courtyard bordered by the moat. The entrance to the property is via a courtyard of honour enclosed by outbuildings erected at the end of the 17th century - utilitarian buildings that over time have become an integral part of the décor. To the west, the Aubigny tower catches the eye: a former tower in the medieval ramparts of Candes, it controls a stone bridge spanning the moat and is a reminder that this manor house was part of an earlier defensive system. The interior has its own surprises in store, including rooms decorated with meticulous woodwork and nineteenth-century wallpaper depicting mythological scenes - a decorative programme of uncommon ambition, evoking the heyday of aristocratic and ecclesiastical holidays. These decorations, designed to amaze, give the salons the atmosphere of a refined cabinet of curiosities. The natural setting enhances the charm of the place: Candes-Saint-Martin, listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, offers a bird's eye view from the terraces of the dwelling of the confluence of the two royal rivers. Photographers, heritage enthusiasts and cultured walkers will find this a memorable stop-off, far from the hustle and bustle of the big tourist châteaux.
Architecture
The Nouveau Logis features a centuries-old architectural composition in which three major construction phases coexist with remarkable coherence. The entrance sequence, structured by the late 17th-century outbuildings, prepares the way for the discovery of the main dwelling by creating a surprise effect: the courtyard of honour lengthens the perspective and delays the appearance of the south facade, whose Baroque pediment is the centrepiece. A rarity in the Loire repertoire, this triangular broken or arched pediment - clearly Roman in inspiration - surmounts a three-sided projection that throws the central body towards the large terrace, creating a dynamic and theatrical interplay of volumes. The two small wings added on the south facade delimit a low courtyard opening onto the moat, reinforcing the impression of defensive architecture converted into prestigious architecture. The Aubigny tower, isolated to the west, links these two elements: with its medieval masonry of tufa and local limestone, it contrasts with the more regular elevations of the dwelling, while establishing a formal dialogue thanks to the stone bridge that spans the moat and links the different parts of the estate. Inside, the main rooms feature beautifully crafted 19th-century wood panelling - panelling with moulded panels, trumeaux and cornices - as well as panoramic wallpaper depicting mythological scenes, a decorative genre in vogue during the Restoration and the July Monarchy. These decorations reflect an ambitious iconographic programme, probably commissioned by an owner keen to assert his classical culture. The dominant materials are white Touraine tufa and slate, in keeping with the building traditions of the Loire Valley.
Related Figures
Les archevêques de Tours (XVe-XVIIIe siècles) — commanditaires et principaux occupants de la résidence secondaireSaint Martin de Tours — figure tutélaire de Candes, dont la mort en 397 a consacré le site, donnant son nom à la communeLa famille d'Aubigny — probable homonyme de la tour d'Aubigny, aristocratie tourangelle liée à l'histoire du rempart médiévalArchitectes anonymes du XVIIe siècle — auteurs du fronton baroque atypique, reflet d'influences romaines ou méridionalesPropriétaires du XIXe siècle — commanditaires des décors intérieurs mythologiques et du logis néoclassique
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Immeuble dit le Nouveau Logis located?
Immeuble dit le Nouveau Logis is located in Candes-Saint-Martin, Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Immeuble dit le Nouveau Logis built?
Immeuble dit le Nouveau Logis dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Immeuble dit le Nouveau Logis open to visitors?
Immeuble dit le Nouveau Logis is currently closed to visitors.