Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Moidière, located in Bonnefamille (Isère), is built around 1660 by Nicolas Scipion Guillet de Moidière. This 17th century monument, restored in the 19th century, belongs to the Dugon family. It is distinguished by its facades and roofs inscribed in historical monuments since 1983, as well as by its vestibule decorated with Italian trompe l'oeil decorations and its staircase with a ramp. Several rooms, such as the Empire room or the library, have a remarkable décor. At the entrance, engraved stones still carry the symbol of the Guillet, the first owners.

The castle suffered major damage during the Great Fear, on 28 July 1789, when the chapel and part of the buildings were burned. It was rebuilt in 1811. Since 1985, the ground floor and cellars, equipped with vivarium, are open to the public. These spaces testify to the architectural evolution and uses of the castle, between seigneurial residence and place of conservation of the natural heritage.

The estate extends over 30 hectares, combining meadows, woods and ponds. An arboretum of 2,000 European trees and shrubs, representing 72 species, completes this landscape. Since 1985, a zoological park has presented 150 animals emblematic of European fauna (lynx, wolves, deer, ibex...). Playful facilities such as mazes and missing species silhouettes (mammouths) are available. The park attracts 15,000 annual visitors in 2015, compared to 6,000 at its opening.

Ranked a historic monument for its architectural and decorative elements, the castle of Moidière illustrates both the aristocratic heritage of the Isère and a modern approach to valorizing the natural heritage. Its animal park, focused on the preservation of European species, makes it a cultural and ecological site.

External links