Manoir de la Cour des Aulnays, manoir à Challain-la-Potherie (Maine-et-Loire)
The Manoir de la Cour des Aulnays is a manor house from the 15th and 16th centuries in Challain-la-Potherie featuring thick stone walls, small towers at the corners, and a surrounding moat system. The complex includes a chapel, a small gatehouse with a former drawbridge, stables, and various outbuildings that reflect different periods of occupation and use.
The estate originated in the Middle Ages as the seat of the Aulnay noble family and was later held by the de la Motte and Beauvau families, who fortified it with walls and towers during the 16th and 17th centuries. During the Vendée wars in the late 18th century, the manor served as a hiding place for local fighters and suffered significant fire damage during repeated attacks.
The manor takes its name from the Aulnay family who shaped this estate for generations. The chapel of Sainte Barbe served as a spiritual center for both the household and the surrounding village community.
The manor is privately owned and opens occasionally for visits and special events, so it is best to check ahead for current opening times and conditions. The site is located in a rural area outside Challain-la-Potherie, so having a car is helpful for reaching it and exploring the grounds at a comfortable pace.
Local legend tells of a golden lily that appears on the pond at sunrise on Saint John's Day and then sinks below the surface, interpreted by residents as a mystical sign linked to the place. The site once housed a lime kiln with a steam machine to extract limestone from local rocks, traces of which visitors might spot near the pond.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
