Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle and the Louvière Park, located east of Montluçon (Allier, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), were built between 1926 and 1953 for industrialist François-Joseph Troubat (1874-1968). The architect René Sappin des Raynaud inspired the Petit Trianon de Versailles to design a neoclassical villa, decorated in 1954 with two wings in the hemicycle. The park, designed by Troubat himself, combines elements of gardens with French and English, with sculptures, aviary and high reliefs recovered from a demolished Parisian hotel.

Inside, the villa retains 18th-century furniture and decor, reflecting Troubat's taste for this time. Among the remarkable pieces are Madame's Art Deco bathroom, the woodwork salons, and a gallery exhibiting paintings from the 17th to the 19th century, including works by Eugene Fromentin, Laurent de La Hyre, and Fantin-Latour. The castle now houses a municipal museum, open to the public since its legacy to the city in 1976.

Ranked Historic Monument in 1994, the ensemble also includes outbuildings like an orange shop, where temporary exhibitions are held. The first retrospective of the Peruvian painter Herman Braun-Vega was organized in 1987. The park, created in 1926, and the villa illustrate the architectural and landscape eclecticism of the early twentieth century, mixing classical heritage and modernity.

Architects Pierre Bougerolle (enlargements of 1953 and 1960) and sculptors Fanny Rozet, Caparello, and Schnedd (high reliefs) also contributed to the enrichment of the site. The protected elements include, in addition to the villa and park, statues, fountains, and interior rooms with their original décor, such as Monsieur's Gothic room or kitchen.

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