Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The château de la Moutte is a bastide located on the peninsula of Saint-Tropez, acquired in 1860 by Émile Ollivier, the last head of government of Napoleon III. He lived there with his first wife, Blandine Liszt, the daughter of composer Franz Liszt and writer Marie d'Agoult. This estate became a place of retirement for Ollivier, especially after the 1870 war, and was preserved by his descendants in his original state.

Anne Troisier de Diaz, granddaughter of Émile Ollivier, perpetuated the heritage of the castle by creating in 1975 the summer festival Les Nuits du château de La Moutte. For almost thirty years, she welcomed renowned artists such as pianists Michel Dalberto and France Clidat, or conductor William Christie, transforming the court into a musical scene.

In order to preserve the domain of real estate speculation, Anne Troisier de Diaz bequeathed the castle at the Conservatoire du littoral, in partnership with the City of Saint-Tropez. She also entrusted the archives of Émile Ollivier to the National Archives. The park, with its palm grove, and the Festival Nuits musicales du château de la Moutte (inherited from the first editions) today perpetuate its romantic and cultural character.

At the same time, Anne Troisier de Diaz founded the Association of Friends of Émile Ollivier, which later became the Émile-Ollivier Institute under the impetus of researchers such as Claude Knepper and Laurent Leprévost. This institute, based at the castle, aims to study and disseminate the minister's memory, with the support of academics such as Theodore Zeldin. The castle opened to the public during Heritage Days, marking its anchor in the local heritage.

External links