Manoir de La Carmerie

Manoir de La Carmerie stands roughly two and a half kilometers southeast of Savonnières, a small town in the Indre-et-Loire department of the Loire Valley, and dates back to the 17th century.

Where does the estate's name come from?

The name "Carmerie" traces back to the Carmelite sisters of Tours, who once traveled here in small groups to rest and recover their strength on this rural property. Their congregation gave the estate its lasting name, even though the manor house visitors see today was built later, in the 1600s.

What does the building look like today?

Two wings set at a right angle form an L-shaped layout. The main block faces southwest and is topped by a triangular pediment that gives the structure a restrained, almost classical silhouette. Extending from it stands a former chapel, later repurposed as a barn, while farm outbuildings line the north and east sides of the courtyard.

Above the round-arched central doorway, a second triangular pediment rises to roof height, carved with a sundial that is still visible on the facade today. Look closer and you'll spot another distinctive detail: a combined pigeon house and gateway (pigeonnier-porche), an unusual pairing of a working farm feature with a grand entrance.

Who is connected to the manor's history?

Writer René Benjamin owned the property in the early 20th century and carried out a thorough restoration in 1927, a project credited with preserving the building's 17th-century character into the present day.

Can visitors go inside?

No. Manoir de La Carmerie remains private property and is not open to the public. It can, however, be admired from the outside while walking or driving along the surrounding lanes — the manor sits off the main tourist routes through Savonnières, on the Route de l'Audeverdière.

Why does the manor carry legal protection?

Its historical and architectural value earned Manoir de La Carmerie a listing as a monument historique on 27 June 1962. That protection covers the main residential building along with the former chapel-turned-barn and the arrangement of farm buildings around the courtyard.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the inside of Manoir de La Carmerie? No — it's a privately owned residence closed to visitors. You can view it from the public road that runs past the estate.

Where does the name "Carmerie" come from? It comes from the Carmelite sisters of Tours, who used the site as a retreat; the property later took its name from that congregation.

How far is the manor from central Savonnières? About two and a half kilometers southeast of the town, along the Route de l'Audeverdière.

What's worth noticing from outside? The triangular pediments on both wings, the carved sundial above the entrance, and the unusual pigeon-house gateway — a rare architectural detail in the region.