Manoir de la Tannerie

Manoir de la Tannerie stands in Courcelles-de-Touraine, a small village in the Indre-et-Loire department, right in the heart of Touraine — a region famous for its dense scattering of châteaux and manor houses along the Loire and its tributaries. Modest in scale compared to its grander neighbors, this fifteenth-century manor still holds a firm place in that landscape of stone and history.

Where does the name come from?

The name "La Tannerie" points to tanning, the leather-working trade that historically clustered near streams and rivers needed for the tanning process. The manor itself began life as a fief owing allegiance to the larger seigneury of Château-la-Vallière, a town a few kilometers away. That kind of dependency was common across the region, where smaller rural estates sat under the authority of bigger feudal centers.

What does the building look like?

The manor follows a straightforward but distinctive plan: a ground floor, one upper story, and an attic. On the south-facing wall rises a polygonal tower housing a wooden spiral staircase — a feature that still catches the eye of anyone viewing the building from outside. Towers of this kind were a common solution in provincial French manors, tucking the stairs away from the main living spaces while signaling the owner's standing.

What survives inside?

The most notable interior feature is the first-floor room, once heated by a hooded fireplace. Its mantel rests on carved, molded consoles that still bear faint traces of painted decoration, now too worn to read clearly. It's this fireplace specifically — not the manor as a whole — that received legal protection: the building was listed as a monument historique on 1 June 1948, but the listing covers only the first-floor chimney, not the entire structure.

Who owned the manor over the centuries?

Ownership records for Manoir de la Tannerie go back to the 17th century. Named owners include Jean Leclerc in 1645, Philippe Dreux in 1681, and Joseph-Alexis Le Vacher de La Chaise in 1738. That succession of owners is typical of the pattern seen across Touraine, where minor nobility and prosperous townspeople bought into rural estates both for income and for the prestige attached to owning land.

Can visitors go inside?

Manoir de la Tannerie is privately owned, and its heritage protection covers only a single interior feature. Don't expect fixed opening hours or organized tours — it's worth checking current access information before planning a visit, since entry to the interior may be limited or require the owners' permission. The exterior, including the tower and its staircase, can be seen while passing through Courcelles-de-Touraine.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Manoir de la Tannerie? It dates from the 15th century, making it one of the older surviving manors in this part of Touraine.

Is the whole manor a protected monument? No — only the first-floor fireplace carries official monument historique protection, granted on 1 June 1948.

What's worth looking at from the outside? The polygonal tower on the south facade, which contains a wooden spiral staircase.

Where exactly is Courcelles-de-Touraine? It's a small commune in the Indre-et-Loire department, in the Centre-Val de Loire region, near Château-la-Vallière, the town to which the manor was historically tied as a fief.