Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of the Mosson, also known as the Bonnier de la Mosson estate, was built between 1723 and 1729 by Joseph Bonnier, treasurer of the Languedoc states. This emblematic monument of Montpellierian madness lies at the border between Montpellier and Juvignac, on the banks of the Mosson River. After Bonnier's premature death in 1744, his widow sold the property, resulting in his partial dismantling. The exterior sculptures, made by Nicolas Sébastien Adam between 1724 and 1726, were scattered in various castles and gardens in the region, such as those of Nîmes or Lavorune.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 2003, the 16-hectare estate includes the remains of the castle, a 100-metre water buffet, and terraced gardens. Acquired by Montpellier in 1982, it was partially restored and opened to the public from 1984. However, since the mid-2010s, the site has been abandoned and occasionally serves as a welcome for Travellers. Despite the rehabilitation projects mentioned by Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, no concrete solution has been found to date (2022).

The remaining statues, very degraded, inspired artist Allan McCollum, who made polyester replicas in 2000. These copies, representing the five allegories, were installed on the Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle in Montpellier, marking the inauguration of tram line 1. The area, although protected, today illustrates the challenges of heritage preservation in the absence of clear funding and project.

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