Logis de la Cour
MonumentHidden Treasure
Logis de la Cour, located in Savennières (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
- Savennières, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00109348
Nestled in the heart of Savennières, the Logis de la Cour is an Anjou residence listed as a historic monument, combining the understated elegance of white tuffeau stone with the civil architecture of the Loire Valley.
History
The Logis de la Cour is one of the most discreet and authentic examples of civil architecture in the Anjou region. Located in the commune of Savennières, on the south bank of the Loire in Maine-et-Loire, this dwelling embodies the tradition of bourgeois and seigneurial residences that have dotted the banks of the Loire since the late Middle Ages. Its protection as a Historic Monument, obtained in 1986, confirms the heritage value of a building which, without the ostentation of a full-scale château, concentrates the essence of local architectural genius. What sets the Logis de la Cour apart is precisely that elegant restraint that characterises the great manor houses of Anjou: well-proportioned volumes, a sober façade enlivened by mullioned windows or frames carefully carved into the tufa stone, and an intimate relationship with the surrounding wine-growing landscape. Savennières is famous for its vineyards, which are ranked among the most famous in Anjou, and the dwelling is a natural extension of this exceptional terroir, which has undoubtedly long been linked to the local wine economy. A visit to the site offers a chance to immerse yourself in the unspoilt atmosphere of a local heritage, far from the crowds of the great châteaux of the Loire. The building reveals its charms to those who take the time to observe the quality of its construction, the sobriety of its ornamentation and the coherence of its layout within the old fabric of the village. The landscaped setting, between the limestone hillside and the banks of the Loire, reinforces the impression of a place out of time. Savennières itself is well worth exploring in its own right: its troglodytic cellars, terraced vineyards and other old dwellings make up a remarkable heritage complex that makes the town a prime destination for lovers of authentic Anjou heritage. The Logis de la Cour is one of these little-known gems, a symbol of refined domestic architecture that deserves national protection.
Architecture
The Logis de la Cour belongs to the family of Anjou mansions built in white tuffeau, the soft, luminous limestone quarried on the banks of the Loire that gives local buildings their characteristic cream to golden hue, depending on the amount of sunlight. This easy-to-cut material enabled builders to decorate façades and window frames with remarkable precision, and the dwelling bears witness to this craftsmanship. The composition of the main facade follows the canons of Loire civil architecture: a rectangular main building with two or three storeys, pierced with mullioned or transomed windows typical of the 15th-16th centuries, topped with a steeply pitched roof of Anjou slate - an emblematic material of the Loire Valley that matches the white of the tufa stone. The pedimented or gabled dormers that punctuate the roof add an elegant verticality to the whole. The intimate layout around a courtyard - as the building's name suggests - is typical of Anjou homes from this period: a U- or L-shaped layout protects a partially enclosed inner courtyard, creating a transitional space between the public space and the private residence. The interior layout, organised around a spiral staircase or a straight stairwell, reflects changes in domestic lifestyles at the turn of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Related Figures
Propriétaires bourgeois angevins du XVe-XVIe siècle, probablement liés au négoce viticole de SavennièresOfficiers de justice ou notaires royaux d'Angers, bâtisseurs typiques de ce type de logis en AnjouFamilles de vignerons enrichis des coteaux de Savennières, gestionnaires du domaine aux XVIIe-XVIIIe sièclesInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques ayant instruit le dossier de protection en 1986
Map
Coordinates not available for this monument.
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Logis de la Cour located?
Logis de la Cour is located in Savennières, Maine-et-Loire department, Pays de la Loire region, France.
When was Logis de la Cour built?
Logis de la Cour dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Logis de la Cour open to visitors?
Logis de la Cour is currently closed to visitors.