Manoir de la Groye

Manoir de la Groye is a manor house in Saint-Saturnin-sur-Loire built during the 16th and 17th centuries on a hillside overlooking the Loire River. Its north wing features an open loggia with an external staircase, surrounded by English-style tree gardens and formal French gardens that remain accessible to visitors.

The property traces its roots to the 10th century when it served as a feudal holding before transforming into a manor house. Most of its current structures were built during the Renaissance, with modifications continuing through the 17th century.

The name reflects its past role as a noble residence, and the grounds today show how the local gentry lived on their estates. The terraced gardens and walls reveal how much the owners valued controlling and displaying nature around their home.

The interior of the manor remains private, but the gardens and grounds are open to visitors for exploration. Wear sturdy shoes since the property sits on a hillside with multiple levels in the terraced gardens.

The terraced gardens and their enclosure walls received official heritage protection in 1977, making them a protected monument in their own right. This is unusual because it recognizes the gardens as historically valuable separate from the manor building itself.