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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Chartreuse de Montbrun, also known as Château de Montbrun, is a neo-classical building located in Verdon, Dordogne (Nouvelle-Aquitaine). Built from 1765 on the initiative of Isaac Jacques de La Valette, lord of Monbrun, it illustrates the architectural model of the perigordine cartreuses, characterized by bodies of aligned buildings and a sober facade. The estate, surrounded by vineyards in the 19th century, extended to the outskirts of Lanquais Castle. His style, marked by a balustrade adorned with sphinges and a family chapel added in 1837, earned him an aesthetic recognition, as the historian Jean Secret testified in 1966: "Not many classical homes have such a nobility!".

The construction, begun under Isaac Jacques de La Valette, continued after his death in 1790 under the direction of his son, Jean Symphorien. The estate remained in the family of La Valette-Monbrun until 1969, before going to La Loge d'Ausson by inheritance. The Chartreuse, listed in the Additional Inventory of Historic Monuments in 1948, is distinguished by its five bodies of buildings online, its rectangular courtyard with well (1776), and its east gate. Private property, it opens only on the occasion of Heritage Days.

Architecturally, the main facade, exposed to the west, combines a central house without floor and two side pavilions, including the south raised from a level. Roofs, pierced with triangular pediments, avoid monotony by a central elevation. At the back, a bass terrace lined with a balustrade leads to the garden, where two sculptures of sphinges frame access. The communes, located perpendicular to the pavilions, define a closed courtyard, reflecting the functional organization of the 18th century seigneurial estates in Périgord.

Historically, Monbrun embodies the aristocratic heritage of the region, linked to wine-growing and rural life. Its inscription as a historic monument in 1948 underscores its heritage value, while its transmission between two noble families (from Valette-Monbrun and La Loge d'Ausson) bears witness to the sustainability of the local lines. Today, although private, the Chartreuse remains a remarkable example of perigordin classical architecture, combining geometric rigor and decorative elegance.

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