Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de la Flachère, located in the commune of Saint-Vérand in the Rhône, was rebuilt between 1863 and 1869 by the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc for Count Antoine-François-Louis de Chaponay and his wife Sophie-Albertine-Cécile Reynaud de Boulogne. The building, of neo-XV century style with neo-Louis XIII influences, replaces an old castle and integrates into a 270 hectare estate, including farms, stables and a landscaped park designed by Varey. The materials used, brick and gold stone, harmonize with the local architecture of Beaujolais, while the richly decorated interiors reflect the fascist of the time.

The estate, modernized in 1843 with stables, an orangery and greenhouses, was completed in 1875. Several elements, including the grand staircase of honor, lounges, libraries and the old kitchen, have been listed as historical monuments since 1981. The communes, stables and park, including rare species, were registered in 2014. The castle, inhabited by the Chaponay family until the beginning of the 20th century, then passed into the hands of the Lévis-Mirepoix before being divided in 1979.

The history of the site dates back to the 13th century, where it housed a chivalry of Malta. The families of Paranges, Chevriers, Durand and Chaponay succeeded as owners. In 1859, the original project of the Lyon architect Louis-Frédéric Benoît was rejected in favour of Viollet-le-Duc, who designed a rectangular castle with corner towers with roofs in the pavilion. The area's hydrographic system, designed for irrigation and drinking water, is evidence of innovative management at the time.

The municipal archives highlight the quality of the drainage of the estate, while the outbuildings, organized in terraces and hidden by groves, illustrate a thoughtful landscape planning. The castle, symbol of the 19th century aristocracy, combines residential function with architectural prestige, with rooms dedicated to leisure (music hall, billiard hall) and culture (libraries). Its park, decorated with rare essences, reflects the enthusiasm of the time for picturesque gardens.

In 1911, Constance Zélie Eudoxie Marie Nicole de Chaponay brought the Flachère to her husband Antoine de Lévis-Mirepoix. The Duke separated in 1979, marking the end of the seigneurial era of the site. Today, the castle and its outbuildings, protected for their heritage value, bear witness to the architectural and social evolution of the region since the Middle Ages.

External links