Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Berrière, located in Barbechat (delegated commune of Divatte-sur-Loire in Loire-Atlantique), finds its origins in the 14th century on a probably medieval basis. It was successively owned by Pierre Eder, then by the families of Goulaine, Vaux and Sesmaisons, who transformed it from a fossilized stronghold into a residential castle. Major changes took place in the 18th century under the Bertrand de Cœuvres family, which expanded the estate, planted a vineyard and built ancillary buildings.

The castle suffered a partial fire on 10 March 1794 during the Vendée war, destroying the west wing and the central body. Reconstructed between 1800 and 1810 by the Bascher family in the management style, it was modified around 1860 by the addition of a pentagonal outgrowth housing a staircase. At the beginning of the 20th century, Joseph de Bascher, a painter, transformed the attic into a neo-Renaissance workshop. The estate, operated under the name Cuvée des Rebels in memory of the insurgents of the Vendees, was listed as historical monuments in 2011.

Since 2016, the association Les Amis du Château de la Berrière has hosted the site with cultural events (theatre, exhibitions, conferences) and participated in its restoration, notably via the Heritage Lotto in 2018. The castle, sold in 2025 after a sale in 2024 for €1.7 million, preserves remarkable elements: 15th century chapel with 16th century stained glass windows, neo-classical woodwork, 19th century park, and outbuildings (grange, pigeon, bakery).

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