Manoir de la Singerie, dit la Cigogne
ManorHidden Treasure
Manoir de la Singerie, dit la Cigogne, located in Saint-Avertin (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
- Saint-Avertin, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.3615, 0.7236
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00098060
In the heart of the Loire Valley, this 17th-century manor house combines classical elegance with rural serenity: triangular pediments, a gate with pyramid-shaped pillars and vast parklands to the south make up an ensemble of rare architectural coherence.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
Nestled on the outskirts of Tours, in the commune of Saint-Avertin, the Manoir de la Singerie — better known by its poetic name of « la Cigogne » — stands as one of the finest examples of the Ligérian manor house of the Grand Siècle. Far removed from the ostentation of the great royal residences, it embodies a sober and considered nobility, that of a provincial aristocracy as devoted to the quality of detail as to the functionality of its outbuildings. What strikes one immediately is the coherence of the whole. The entrance courtyard, open to the north, is defined by a wall punctuated by a gate with pillars crowned by a pyramid and a sphere — motifs characteristic of the classical decorative vocabulary. On either side, two service buildings, each flanked by a low turret, frame the space with a masterful symmetry, creating a composition that one might describe as a « classicisme à la française » adapted to the scale of the manor house. The main dwelling, a long rectilinear building, reserves its elegance for the central bay of each of its façades: a triangular pediment, a French window opening onto a wrought-iron balcony — details that betray the hand of a builder mindful of creating a hierarchy of volumes without ever sacrificing the harmony of the whole. To the south, the park stretches out in silence, offering a gentle prospect over the Tourangeau landscape. Ancient trees and open lawns compose a natural setting conducive to contemplative strolling. For those with an appreciation of heritage, this manor house, listed amongst the Monuments Historiques since 1950, represents a precious stopping point on the route des châteaux de la Loire: less frequented than its illustrious neighbours, it is all the more charming for it.
Architecture
The Manoir de la Singerie eloquently illustrates the architectural classicism of the second half of the 17th century, adapted to the scale of a provincial manor house. The main dwelling, conceived as a long horizontal building, derives its dignity from the enhancement of its north and south façades through an identical central bay: a triangular pediment at the top, and a French window with a wrought ironwork balcony at the bottom. This arrangement, characteristic of the French classical vocabulary, creates a vertical accent that harmoniously breaks up the linearity of the building. The entrance courtyard, to the north, is enclosed by a boundary wall pierced by a monumental gate framed by two pillars with pyramid and sphere finials — geometric forms borrowed from the decorative repertoire of classical architecture, which can be found in numerous hôtels particuliers and maisons de maître throughout the Loire basin. Two service buildings, arranged at right angles (two wings perpendicular to each other), flank the courtyard to the east and west. Each is adorned with a low turret that lends it a picturesque silhouette whilst evoking the medieval tradition of the turreted manor house, here reinterpreted with restraint. The ensemble, in all likelihood built in tuffeau — the white stone characteristic of the Touraine — rests upon a rigorous and symmetrical plan, bearing witness to a sure command of the principles of composition inherited from the great Vitruvian tradition. The park to the south, in keeping with the tradition of ligérien gardens, harmoniously completes the architectural composition.
Related Figures
Propriétaire bâtisseur du XVIIe siècle (identité non établie), commanditaire probable du manoirChanoines et directeurs du Séminaire de Tours (XVIIIe siècle), administrateurs du domaineAcquéreurs révolutionnaires (acheteurs de biens nationaux, période 1789-1795)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Manoir de la Singerie, dit la Cigogne located?
Manoir de la Singerie, dit la Cigogne is located in Saint-Avertin, Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Manoir de la Singerie, dit la Cigogne built?
Manoir de la Singerie, dit la Cigogne dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Manoir de la Singerie, dit la Cigogne open to visitors?
Manoir de la Singerie, dit la Cigogne is currently closed to visitors.