Château de Sourches

The Château de Sourches is neoclassical château located in the commune of Saint-Symphorien, near Le Mans, in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays de la Loire, in northwestern France. The château was built between 1761 and 1786 for Louis II du Bouchet de Sourches, Marquis de Sourches, by the King's architect Gabriel de Lestrade with the help of the architect Jean-François Pradrel. It was inherited by Sourches' daughter-in-law, Louise-Élisabeth de Croÿ, Marquise de Tourzel (and future Duchess of Tourzel), Governess of the Children of France from July 1789, who took part in the flight to Varennes and was imprisoned at the Square du Temple with the royal family in August 1792 during the French Revolution. The château passed to the Pérusse des Cars family in 1845 who owned it until 1985. The roof and façade of the château, as well as its main courtyard, moat and chapel have been classified as historical monuments since 11 April 1947.