Logis des Landes
MonumentHidden Treasure
Logis des Landes, located in Brain-sur-l'Authion (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
- Brain-sur-l'Authion, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00108986
In the heart of the Val d'Authion, the Logis des Landes elegantly blends sober 15th-century Gothic architecture with classical 18th-century alterations, bearing witness to the continuity of the Angevin seigneury.
History
Nestling on the alluvial plain of the Val d'Authion, between the Loire and the Angevin bocage, the Logis des Landes is one of those discreet buildings that encapsulate several centuries of rural and seigneurial history. Far from the magnificence of the great châteaux of the Loire, it embodies a provincial landed aristocracy, attached to its land and its architectural traditions, for whom the dwelling is both symbol and refuge. What makes this monument unique is precisely the legibility of its architectural layers. The medieval main building, marked by the sober lines of late Anjou Gothic, coexists with additions and alterations from the 18th century, when the residence was probably refurbished to meet the new demands of comfort and classical taste. This architectural layering makes it a precious testimony to the evolution of seigneurial residences in Maine-et-Loire over three hundred years. To visit the Logis des Landes is to immerse yourself in an authentic heritage, preserved from over-zealous reconstruction. The interior volumes have probably preserved some remarkable features: fireplaces with moulded mantels, spiral staircases or wrought iron banisters, ceilings with exposed joists, all testifying to local know-how. The residence is set in typical Val d'Authion hedged farmland, with hedgerows and orchards framing the property in a rural setting. The natural setting adds to the appeal of the site. Brain-sur-l'Authion, a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department just a few kilometres from Angers, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Loire Valley, an area where historic residences dot the landscape at regular intervals. The Logis des Landes is a little-known but authentic part of this exceptional heritage.
Architecture
The Logis des Landes has a composite architecture, the result of two major building campaigns separated by three centuries. The 15th-century medieval core can be identified by its late Anjou Gothic features: walls made of local tufa or schist, materials that are ubiquitous in the Loire Valley, soberly profiled mullioned openings, and a steeply pitched roof covered in blue slate from the Trélazé quarries, an indissociable signature of Loire Valley architecture. Eighteenth-century interventions have added a classical touch, perceptible in the regularity of the small-timbered windows, the probable symmetry of certain elevations, and the treatment of the interiors. Fireplaces with classical mantels, woodwork with moulded panels and meticulously-crafted floors probably complete an interior redesigned according to the canons of provincial decor of the Louis XV or Louis XVI period. The whole forms a traditional block dwelling, with no return wings or prominent front wings, and an interior layout arranged around a central stairway. The property's built environment probably includes agricultural outbuildings - a barn, stable and wine press - testifying to the residence's rural and wine-growing vocation. The whole complex forms a coherent whole, typical of Anjou gentleman's dwellings, halfway between a noble residence and a prestigious farm.
Related Figures
Famille seigneuriale fondatrice du XVe siècle (identité non établie), bâtisseurs du corps de logis médiévalPropriétaires du XVIIIe siècle, commanditaires des remaniements classiquesLouis XI, roi de France, sous le règne duquel l'Anjou est rattaché à la couronne (1481)Administrateurs révolutionnaires du département de Maine-et-Loire (1793)Inspecteurs des Monuments Historiques ayant instruit le dossier d'inscription (1984)
Map
Coordinates not available for this monument.
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Logis des Landes located?
Logis des Landes is located in Brain-sur-l'Authion, Maine-et-Loire department, Pays de la Loire region, France.
When was Logis des Landes built?
Logis des Landes dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Logis des Landes open to visitors?
Logis des Landes is currently closed to visitors.