Grotte ornée de la Dérouine
grotte ornée
PA00109621
French architectural heritage database reference.
Classé (1970)
Status under the French Heritage Act.
Grotte ornée de la Dérouine — Grotte ornée in Thorigné-en-Charnie (Mayenne) classé Monument Historique (listed) in 1970 under the French Heritage Act.
Identification & Protection
Mérimée reference
This monument is referenced in the French architectural heritage database (Mérimée) under the identifier PA00109621. Full archival records are published by the Ministère de la Culture at pop.culture.gouv.fr.
Protection status
The building is classé Monument Historique (listed) (since 1970), the highest French-law category for heritage immeubles.
Grotte ornée de la Dérouine (cad. C 234) : classement par décret du 25 mars 1970
Ownership
Current legal status: propriété privée.
Location & Access
Commune and département
Located in Thorigné-en-Charnie, Mayenne, within the Pays de la Loire region of France.
Coordinates
GPS coordinates: 47.9915°N, -0.4058°E (WGS 84).
Nearby protected sites
| Monument | Commune | Protected |
|---|---|---|
| Moulin à vent des Gués | Fontaine-Couverte | 1989 |
| Menhir de la Hune de Bazougers | Bazougers | 1889 |
| Eglise Notre-Dame des Cordeliers | Laval | 2023 |
| Manoir de Longuefougères | Torcé-Viviers-en-Charnie | 1985 |
| Maison de Laval | Laval | 1933 |
Loire Context
Architectural context
Built or restructured in the Paléolithique supérieur.
Relative significance
Protected later than the median monument of the département, often reflecting 20th-century re-evaluation of local heritage.
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 Grotte ornée de la Dérouine located?
Grotte ornée de la Dérouine is located in the commune of Thorigné-en-Charnie (Mayenne).
When was Grotte ornée de la Dérouine protected?
It was classé Monument Historique (listed) in 1970 under the French Heritage Act, with reference PA00109621 in the Mérimée database.
When was Grotte ornée de la Dérouine built?
The main construction campaign dates from the Paléolithique supérieur.
Data source: Ministère de la Culture — base Mérimée (data.culture.gouv.fr). Last updated: April 14, 2026.
Geographic location
Coordinates: 47.9915°N, -0.4058°E