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Origin and history

The château of the bishops of Montpellier, known as château de Laverune, is an 18th-century religious building built on the remains of a 16th-century residence, itself succeeding a 12th-century feudal castle. Located in Laverune, Occitanie, it is now one of the largest historic parks in the Hérault, with a 3.5 km enclosure and a 40 hectare area. Its origins date back to the Frézouls family (Fredol), mentioned since the tenth century as owner of the estate, then linked to the bishopric of Montpellier.

In the 16th century, the estate belonged to the Pelet, descendants of the Counts of Melgueil, who welcomed Catherine of Medici in 1579 during an epidemic of plague. In 1622, the castle became the headquarters of Louis XIII during the siege of Montpellier. Sold in 1626 to Daniel de Gallières, a noble Protestant, he underwent hydraulic arrangements, including a "great pool" fed by the source of the Abymes. The estate then passed into the hands of the Church: Monsignor of Pradel (1692-1696) transformed the gardens, bringing the park to 24 hectares, before Monsignor of Croissy (1696-1738), nephew of Colbert, made it a sumptuous residence of 44 hectares.

Bishop of Croissy enlarged the castle with architect Charles Daviler, adding a wing and a marble chapel, before the works were taken over by Estienne Giral in 1723. His successor, Monsignor de Villeneuve (1754-1766), modernized the hydraulic system and decorated the Louis XV-style gypserie music salon, adorned with instruments, angelots and trophies. The estate, seized as well as the clergy in 1789, was sold to Jean-Jacques Brunet, who experimented with arboriculture (Lebanon cedars, magnolias) before its abandonment in the 19th century.

In the 20th century, the castle belonged to Louis Petit, who replaced part of the trees with vines. Rached by the City Hall of Laverune in 1972, it has been home to the Hofer-Bury Museum since 1992, created by the donation of a private collection of regional art. The music fair, restored in 2012 for €470,000, now hosts concerts and exhibitions. Ranked a Historical Monument (façades, music salon, fortified door), the site is also remarkable for its hydraulic system and its canopy of plane trees, visible to kilometers.

The park, rehabilitated under the control of the DRAC in the 2000s, preserves elements from the 17th and 18th centuries: aisles, parterres à la française, and a wheel well feeding fountains. Architects Jacques Desfour and Claude Projet redesigned the facades and the honorary staircase in the 18th century. Today, the castle combines historical heritage and cultural life, with visits to Heritage Days and festive activities.

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