L'ancien accès principal Demeure Jousset des Berries - Le Mans, Sarthe

History of the house



This private mansion, listed as a Historic Monument, was built in 1747 (the date is on the facade) by Charles Jousset des Berries, an enriched and ennobled industrialist, on the foundations of an older house.

With its three hectares of park and its elegant appearance, so Louis XV, it is one of the most beautiful in Le Mans. Its plan is very innovative and we are surprised by the false French window on the south facade... which was in fact the main entrance porch!

The house survived the Revolution without incident and was sold in 1830 by the owner family to the Department of Sarthe to install... the first Normal School for teachers. It changed use in 1900 to become a private clinic then was abandoned in the 1960s/70s.

We bought it in 1988 in a very dilapidated state to turn it into quality rental apartments after major work, then from 2020 to 2024 into guest apartments... and our second home!

If you are interested in the history of the house and its owners, I have at your disposal extracts from articles and a very recent monograph.