Le Grabatoire GB

The Grabatoire ( or mansion grabatoire)

Origins :

This mansion (hôtel particulier) was built at the begining of the 16th but contrary to a general accepted idea (idée reçue), it was never meant to be a hospital. As a matter of fact, we thought this building could have been built at the place of a ancient hospital , what could explain its name of "grabatoire" (a place for bedridden (handicapés) people). The name remained although the building didn't play this role.

Particularity :

Actually, there are just a very few documents, archives/records, about this building, it's the less known monument of the town. Nowadays, it's the house of the bishop of Le Mans.

History :

This building was built at the begining of the 16th century in a Renaissance style. Its construction was ordered by Jean de Couthary, archibischop, on agreement with the canons of the cathedral.But this one died before the end of the construction, so the canons had to pay almost all the price of the works, so they became owners of it. (maison canoniale)

In 1562, after the cathedral was devastated by the protestants during the religious war, the canons put in the grabatoire a chapter room. 

At the end of the 16th century, this mansion became a property of the town, and some famous people stayed here a few times, like the governor of the province or the young Louis 13th when he was a child with his mother during as  the stayed in the town for a few days.

In the 18th, it belonged again to the canons, 2 of them used to live there until 1791 when it was sold as national property. 

In the 19th, the grabatoire was bought by abbot Bruneau, who put notably dormer windows on the façade. 

Nowadays, the grabatoire is the house of the bishop of le Mans

Architecture :

This building was built in a first Renaissance style. (Francis the first) There are not a lot of ornaments but it has a rather large width.

     - This mansion is composed of a two-levels pavillion,in the west there is a less high part with a a gable.

     - 2 octogonal turrets (staircases inside)

     - Several dormer windows sumonted by gables

     - Mullion and transomes windows