Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Moulin de Mistou in Mauperthuis is an emblematic monument of the 4th quarter of the 18th century, located in the Seine-et-Marne department in Île-de-France. This site is best known to house the Mauperthuis pyramid, a remarkable building built in 1782. Originally, this pyramid was integrated into the park of the castle of Mauperts, now disappeared, and was part of an initiatory course designed for visitors. It is surrounded by decorative elements such as a column and the tomb of the Admiral de Coligny, arranged in an arc of circle around a loop of the Aubetin, crossed by an adorned bridge.

The architectural authorship of the pyramid remains uncertain, although two names are often mentioned: Claude-Nicolas Ledoux and Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart. However, there is no document to confirm with certainty the identity of the architect. The pyramid, classified as a Historical Monument by decree of 26 July 1988, is now located in the area of the Mill of Mistou. The latter is also associated with a crenellated tower, called the Watchtower, which, in turn, was listed by order of June 16, 1989.

The site is represented in a painting by Claude-Louis Châtelet, entitled the pyramid of the castle of Mauperthuis, which offers an artistic vision of the domain, although the artist has taken certain freedoms with the actual disposition of the elements. However, the table gives an idea of the atmosphere and the initial organisation of the park. Today, the Mill of Mistou and its pyramid are vestiges of an architectural and landscape heritage marked by the influence of the Enlightenment and the French gardens, although the castle that housed them has disappeared.

External links