Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house of Boussac was built from 1695 by Jacques Perrin, merchant in brandies and owner of the Hotel Perrin in Cognac. Located near Richemont, on the banks of the Antenne, it replaces an ancient medieval house linked to a wheat mill mentioned in 1426. This estate, acquired in 1692 by Jean and Jacques Perrin, became a country residence emblematic of the reign of Louis XIV, reflecting the aristocratic taste for "homes in the fields".

The house, of sober and elegant style, consists of a long central building flanked by two square pavilions. Its architectural features include two doors opposite: a courtyard side, topped by a sundial and a balustrade, opens onto a porch; The other side garden overlooks a horse-drawn iron staircase leading to a terrace. Nearby, an 18th-century dovecote and a well covered with a stone dome complete the whole.

In the 18th century, the industrial estate partially established a stationery in 1788, active until 1827. The paper mill, now extinct, had dryers and worker housing, a building of which still remains. The house, which has remained intact since its construction, illustrates the evolution of the use of a rural area, moving from agriculture to pro-industrial activity, while maintaining its residential role.

Ranked a historic monument in 1987 for its home, pavilions and well, the Boussac estate is now a private property open to the public in summer. Outside visits are free, while inside, preserved in its original state, is discovered during guided tours. This site reflects both Charentaise domestic architecture and local economic history, linked to mills and paper production.

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