Leaving the sea towards La Chapelle-Saint-Martin-en-Plaine, the site of the place called
Pommegorge is not obvious and yet it is worth the detour. Especially since Béatrice Duché-Dormand
arrived there with her husband in 2005: “This site is very peaceful and steeped in history”.
This enthusiast (who conducts tireless research) has therefore raised the price. This building,
a former seigniory, bore the name of Coppegorge at the end of the 15th century, then
Pompegorge in 1638 before being called Les Pommegorges in the 18th century.
"If the term priory is included in the deed of sale, the enigma remains unsolved as to the
period and the existence of the inhabitants", notes the president of the association of
safeguard of the priory. However, we mention some lords, owners who lived there:
Lourme (1420-1451), Leroux (1530) Marchant (1550) and Lory (1600-1676).
Let's enter! According to the plan of the Napoleonic cadastre it was a large building going
up to the road (about 35 m), only the seigniorial manor has resisted until today.
“It is a 100 m2 building which has retained several Renaissance-style mullioned windows.
There are also two imposing fireplaces of 12 m with very beautiful beams. And then,
of course, there are no treasures, but vast vaulted cellars carved into the rock that ran
over the entire surface of the old dwelling :"They are made up of five rooms and would
have served as clandestine meeting places for Protestants around 1598,
Mer having been an important stronghold" .
“An unusual place for historical experience”
The association wants to restore the building to make it a themed site to visit. She has already
staged the Vikings Festival, the Rabelaisian Festivals and many successful actions. A restoration is
expensive and the creation of a remunerative activity is essential. “We would like to develop activities linked
to history, rent this manor and why not set up Gallic huts and organize a stopover for bicycles.
It must become an unusual place to visit so that the public can live a historical experience. ”
It remains to build a well-identified pre-project to be eligible for funding: “We must surround
ourselves with professionals in the sector to carry out a diagnosis, put together a whole file
and obtain the relay of the communities to finance it”.At a time when the community has
turned towards tourism, the association has a “historical” card to play.
Historical information: “Histoires de Mer” (1999) by André Prudhomme and research by
Béatrice Duché-Dormand. The building had become a farm until 1995.
Béatrice welcomed descendants from South Africa of the Leroux family (1530).
