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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Lagrange-Montalivet, located in Saint-Bouize in the Cher, is a monument of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, built on the site of an ancient castle mentioned in 1090. It was rebuilt after its destruction in 1569 by Calvinist troops, probably under the impulse of Antoine de La Grange d'Arquien or the Buffévent family, which united the seigneury in the seventeenth century. The central house, flanked by two pavilions, and the commons date in part from the reign of Henry IV, while the gardens were built in 1639.

The estate knew several notable owners, such as the Buffévent family, who received St Vincent de Paul in 1647, or Paul de Grivel, who welcomed Elizabeth de Bourbon, Princess of Conti in the 18th century. Sold in 1762 to François Brisson, president of the Paris Parliament, the castle was restored in the 19th century by the Counts of Montalivet, ministers under Napoleon I and Louis-Philippe. The latter incorporated painted panels of the Lambert Hotel and had the gardens redesigned by Pierre Fontaine.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1999, the castle is distinguished by its central body with imperial roof, its brick and stone communes, and its exterior staircases (semi-circular porch and iron-to-horse staircase). The remains of the medieval castle, like an ogival vaulted hall, remain in the communes. The park, listed in the additional inventory, blends heritage from French gardens with 19th century landscape developments.

The architectural history of the castle reflects its successive transformations: reconstruction after 1590, interior modifications in the 18th century (stone staircase, rock decorations), and major restorations in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Montalivets, notably Camille (Minister of Louis-Philippe), added neoclassical elements and refurbishing the courtyard. Today, the estate remains owned by the Villeneuve family, perpetuating its historical and artistic heritage.

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