Logis de la Constantinière
MonumentHidden Treasure
Logis de la Constantinière, located in Soulaines-sur-Aubance (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
- Soulaines-sur-Aubance, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.3592, -0.5261
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00132832
Discret joyau de l'Anjou rural, le Logis de la Constantinière déploie son élégance classique du Grand Siècle au cœur des coteaux viticoles de Soulaines-sur-Aubance, témoignage rare d'une architecture agricole noble du XVIIe siècle.
History
Nestling in the Anjou bocage, at the gateway to the Aubance vineyards that produce the famous Coteaux de l'Aubance, the Logis de la Constantinière is one of those rural buildings that France likes to preserve discreetly. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1994, it soberly embodies the art of country living as conceived by the landed bourgeoisie in the second half of the 17th century. Its charm is that of Anjou architecture, with its rigour and economy of means, far removed from the glitz and glamour of Versailles, but conveying the dignity of the noblesse de robe and the bourgeois families who made these lands prosper. The building combines the functions of a residence with those of a farm, in a typical Maine-et-Loire architectural style in which the owner's dwelling is linked to the farm outbuildings in a coherent compositional unit. The visitor experience is as much about the building itself as it is about its surroundings: the surrounding hillsides, shaped by centuries of wine-growing and arboriculture, offer a remarkably serene setting. Just a stone's throw from Angers and its royal castle, La Constantinière is part of a heritage itinerary that reveals Maine-et-Loire in an intimate light, far removed from the beaten track. The vegetation surrounding the dwelling - hedgerows, orchards and vegetable gardens inherited from a long farming tradition - plays an integral part in the interpretation of the monument. It gives an idea of what life was like on a prosperous farm in classical Anjou: orderly, rooted in the land, yet aspiring to a certain formal elegance that is reflected in the meticulous architectural details.
Architecture
The Logis de la Constantinière is typical of rural architecture in Anjou in the second half of the 17th century: the main building is built of tuffeau, the soft white stone quarried in the Loire valley that gives Anjou its unmistakeable architectural identity. The beautifully regular walls are covered with a long-sloped roof of Anjou slate, the preferred roofing material throughout the Loire region. The main facade is arranged around a central, slightly marked bay, pierced by bays with moulded frames that introduce a note of classical dignity into an otherwise sober programme. The overall layout links the dwelling itself with its agricultural outbuildings - barns, cellars and stables - in a U- or L-shaped layout typical of Anjou estates of this period, creating an inner courtyard that organises the flow between residential life and farming. The pedimented dormer windows, moulded cornices and elaborate door surrounds clearly distinguish this dwelling from a simple farmhouse, confirming the ambitions of its patron to represent his estate. Inside, the vertical layout over two levels of living space meets the functional requirements of a rural manor house: reception rooms on the ground floor opening onto the courtyard and garden, bedrooms upstairs served by a staircase whose wrought iron or turned wood banister is probably the building's most meticulous decorative feature. The monumental fireplaces, essential in Anjou's climate, give structure to the interior volumes and are precious evidence of the domestic decor of the Grand Siècle in Anjou.
Related Figures
Propriétaire fondateur anonyme (seconde moitié XVIIe siècle) — commanditaire probable de l'édifice, issu de la bourgeoisie terrienne ou de la petite noblesse angevineMaître maçon angevin (XVIIe siècle) — artisan local ayant mis en œuvre les techniques de construction en tuffeau propres à la région ligérienneFamilles bourgeoises successives de Soulaines-sur-Aubance — propriétaires et exploitants du domaine aux XVIIIe et XIXe sièclesInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques (1994) — responsables de l'instruction du dossier ayant conduit à l'inscription protectrice du logis
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Logis de la Constantinière located?
Logis de la Constantinière is located in Soulaines-sur-Aubance, Maine-et-Loire department, Pays de la Loire region, France.
When was Logis de la Constantinière built?
Logis de la Constantinière dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Logis de la Constantinière open to visitors?
Logis de la Constantinière is currently closed to visitors.
