Château de Sourches, Saint-Symphorien, France

The Château de Sourches is neoclassical château located in the commune of Saint-Symphorien, near Le Mans. 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.

In 2001, the château was bought by Hélène Martin and family, after which the château and the park were immediately reopened to the public. Major restoration work was undertaken with the help of the State, the Region and the Department. Many cultural and sporting events are organized there permanently, hunting festival, the first Sunday in July, agricultural shows, theater, cinema, concert, conferences.

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User Reviews

Sara Foster (12 months ago)
A hidden gem! It was our first visit, but it won't be our last. Such a beautiful château with over 3200 types of peoeoni. They have a small café serving drinks and snacks, but we opted to take our own picnic. We were able to sit at a table, amongst the flowers, and enjoy our food. There is a small shop & they also sell peoeoni plants to take home. We also had a stroll through the cellar, which holds a display of replica artworks hidden there during the 2nd World War. I can highly recommend a visit during peoeoni season.

Jeanne Hubert (12 months ago)
Nice outing for a sunny afternoon! There is even a charming corner for a drink. Above all, you have to keep your tickets from one year to the next ? (Good to know dogs are not allowed in the middle of the peonies but it's good for them in all the rest of the park)

Emma stdg (12 months ago)
Visit in May during the annual opening to visit the Peony Garden An impressive collection with several hundred varieties in the moats of the castle and on the surroundings, very pleasant visit the estate is very well maintained ??? Possibility to come several times while keeping your ticket. Please note that it may be closed in case of bad weather check well before coming ;)

Vincent Van den Berge (4 years ago)
For a small fee the owners kindly welcomed us onto their land and gave us a detailed tour of the building. Beautiful location and extremely nice people!

Luca Battistini (5 years ago)
Location"Lady J"

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The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.

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