Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The estate of Verde et Graveyron, located in Audenge and Lanton in the east of the Arcachon basin, was erected in the 18th century by the Marquis de Civrac, captal of True. The latter developed a vast saliculture, the largest in the basin, engulfing the salted meadows of the island of Branne with two million tons of land. The production of salt reached 1,000 tons per year, but taxes imposed by the Charentais producers destroyed Civrac in 1773. Graveyron, sold to the Marquis d'Arcambal, became a fishery, while True was transformed into a fish farm by Ernest Valeton de Boissière in the 19th century.

The castle, rebuilt around 1840 by Valeton de Boissière and partially restored in 2004, was ravaged by a fire in 2010. Ranked Historic Monument in 1991 for its facades, roofs and interior decorations (modern style of the 1930s), it now houses structures dedicated to ecology and heritage. The estate, acquired by the Conservatoire du littoral (1984 for True, 1998 for Graveyron), extends over 540 hectares of natural habitats (brackish bassins, reeds) and offers 19 km of free access trails.

Ernest Valeton de Boissière, close to Jacques Duvigneau (advisor general and then deputy for Gironde), marked the history of the site. Today managed by the Departmental Council, the estate combines ecological preservation (fauna, flora, open landscapes by livestock) and heritage enhancement, with free activities for the public. The old studs (1880), the monumental entrance in pergola and the operating buildings now house conservation actors (LPO, Botanical Conservatory, DRAC).

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