Ancenis, Pays de la Loire 44150

A listed historical monument Renaissance era manor with a formal garden, in the Loire Atlantique area, 25 minutes north of Ancenis. The manor stands on the southern edge of the church square and is surrounded to the north and east by a walled garden. The outbuilding is located on the eastern side of the property. The origins of the manor date from the 15th century, though it was considerably extended and enhanced during the following century, in 1565 to be precise, as indicated on a date stone on the faade. At this point in time, the building became flanked by a tall, square staircase tower topped with a pavilion roof. The summit of the tower boasts a conical vault, which is an architectural element typical of the Renaissance. It was built to support a small flight of stairs to the very top of the attic. The building's structure is made of rough-hewn blocks of shale, rendered with a mix of lime and sand. Its roofs are made of slate and its chimney stacks of red brick. The tall faades are dotted with large windows and doors with tuffeau stone frames.