Origin and history
Hervé Castle, also known as Bourcart Castle or "La Magnanerie", is a historic monument located in Dachstein, Lower Rhine. This building, a hotel-type between courtyard and garden, was originally conceived as an episcopal residence before becoming, in 1747, a royal school for the manufacture of silkworms. Its architecture, marked by sandstone facades, lateral forebody and a park with symmetrical pavilions, reflects its status as a prestigious institution under the Old Regime. The inscription "ECOLE ROYALE/DE LA MANRIQUATION DES TORS A SOYE/AN.MDCCL" on the facade on the garden side attests to its first vocation, completed around 1750 under the probable direction of architect Joseph Massol, appointed by the bishopric.
The history of the castle is linked to several influential figures. In 1718, the Cardinal of Rohan-Soubise ceded Dachstein and the former episcopal castle to the baili F. A. Herrenberger, provided that he built a new residence for the bishop — a promise partially kept by the restoration of the old castle. In 1742, the intendant of Alsace, M. de Brou, established a royal nursery there, before his successor, the intendant of Vanolles, annexed the magnatery in 1747. The estate then changed hands: sold in 1752 to Natalis de Regemorte, then acquired successively by General Le Perruquet de Montrichard (early 19th), the knight Massias (circa 1825), and finally the Hervé family (1838), whose descendants, the Bourcarts, were still owners.
The architectural complex includes a main house, communal wings, outbuildings (kitchen, stables, stake), and a park lined with walls pierced with cochère doors. The vaulted basement in a cradle, the central corridor housing a 19th century wooden staircase, and the two pavilions of the garden testify to its original organization. Ranked a historic monument in 1986, the castle protects its facades, roofs, gates, and the bridge over the old ditch of the city. His history illustrates the links between episcopal power, royal initiatives and Alsatian industrial heritage.
Before its educational vocation, the site was an episcopal residence, symbol of the influence of the bishops of Strasbourg in Alsace. The creation of the silkworm is part of a royal policy of economic development, aimed at implementing in France techniques of silkworm breeding, then flourishing in Italy. The architecture, combining classical elegance and functionality, served both as a showcase for this emerging industry and as a training venue. After the Revolution, the division of the estate in 1803 and its changes of ownership reflected the land and social upheavals of the era.
Today, the Hervé-Bourcart castle remains a rare testimony of the alliance between aristocratic heritage and industrial history. Its inscription in historical monuments underscores the value of its architecture (stones, rump roofs, balconies) and its landscaping (garden-park, pavilions). Although some parts, such as the 18th-century stairway of the concierge, have been preserved, other elements, such as the main staircase guard, date from the mid-19th century, illustrating the successive adaptations of the building.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review