Château du Vieux-Lavardin
château fort
PA00135560
French architectural heritage database reference.
Inscrit (1995)
Status under the French Heritage Act.
Château du Vieux-Lavardin — Château fort in Mézières-sous-Lavardin (Sarthe) inscrit Monument Historique (inscribed) in 1995 under the French Heritage Act.
Historical notice
Site fortifié dès le 12e siècle, composé de trois mottes successives et d'une courtine polygonale. Château fort construit au 12e ou 13e siècle et reconstruit dans les années 1470 (logis construit après 1471).
Identification & Protection
Mérimée reference
This monument is referenced in the French architectural heritage database (Mérimée) under the identifier PA00135560. Full archival records are published by the Ministère de la Culture at pop.culture.gouv.fr.
Protection status
The building is inscrit Monument Historique (inscribed) (since 1995), the highest French-law category for heritage immeubles.
Château, ainsi que les courtines, les mottes et fossés et contrevallations (cad. C 392 à 394, 695) : inscription par arrêté du 28 février 1995
Ownership
Current legal status: propriété privée.
Location & Access
Commune and département
Located in Mézières-sous-Lavardin, Sarthe, within the Pays de la Loire region of France.
Coordinates
GPS coordinates: 48.1503°N, 0.0435°E (WGS 84).
Nearby protected sites
| Monument | Commune | Protected |
|---|---|---|
| Château (donjon et ruines) | Ballon | 1923 |
| Château de Martigné de Avessé | Avessé | 1990 |
| Château de Lorrière de Dissé-sous-le-Lude | Dissé-sous-le-Lude | 2001 |
| Zone contenant des vestiges archéologiques | Allonnes | 1961 |
| Maison dite de Scarron | Le Mans | 1927 |
Loire Context
Architectural context
Built or restructured in the 4e quart 12e siècle;4e quart 15e siècle.
Relative significance
Among the earliest-protected buildings of the département — a landmark of the 1840 heritage wave.
UNESCO landscape
The Loire Valley is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2000 as a cultural landscape. Read the anchor page: Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Château du Vieux-Lavardin located?
Château du Vieux-Lavardin is located in the commune of Mézières-sous-Lavardin (Sarthe).
When was Château du Vieux-Lavardin protected?
It was inscrit Monument Historique (inscribed) in 1995 under the French Heritage Act, with reference PA00135560 in the Mérimée database.
When was Château du Vieux-Lavardin built?
The main construction campaign dates from the 4e quart 12e siècle;4e quart 15e siècle.
Data source: Ministère de la Culture — base Mérimée (data.culture.gouv.fr). Last updated: April 14, 2026.
Geographic location
Coordinates: 48.1503°N, 0.0435°E