Parc et maison de la Bizolière
MonumentHidden Treasure
Parc et maison de la Bizolière, located in Savennières (Maine-et-Loire), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Savennières, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.3953, -0.6624
- Mérimée Reference
- PA49000102
Nestling on the slopes of Savennières, La Bizolière is a discreet and refined Anjou residence, whose terraced grounds overlooking the Loire reveal a timeless aristocratic art of living.
History
In the heart of the Savennières wine appellation, renowned for its great chenin blanc vintages, La Bizolière is a picture of pure Anjou elegance: a manor house flanked by carefully designed grounds that hug the gentle slopes of the hills overlooking the Loire. Far from the glitz and glamour of the great residences on the Loire, this estate cultivates a sober, intimate beauty, typical of the country estates of the gentlemen who line the south bank of the river between Angers and Rochefort-sur-Loire. What makes La Bizolière truly unique is the remarkable coherence between the architecture of the house and the composition of its grounds. The two entities form an indissociable whole, conceived as an organic whole where the planted perspectives extend the built lines and where the stone of the dwelling converses with the changing light of the Loire Valley. This unity has convinced the French heritage authorities to register both the house and the park as Monuments Historiques in 2022 - a recognition that underlines their joint value. Visitors venturing into the park will discover a terraced layout typical of Anjou gardens, where the topographical art of the 18th and 19th centuries is expressed in the interplay of levels, clipped hedges and paths, the rigour of which gradually fades towards the natural boundaries of the estate. The vegetation, a mix of ornamental species and tall trees, offers natural views of the surrounding vineyards and, in places, the silvery ribbon of the Loire. A recently listed private property, La Bizolière is not a mass monument but an authentic and well-preserved testimony to the way of life of the landowners of Maine-et-Loire, whose fortunes were often linked to the wine trade and the exploitation of the region's schistose slopes. Its discovery, necessarily confidential, makes it a discreet jewel of the Loire heritage.
Architecture
The house at Bizolière has all the hallmarks of a fine Anjou dwelling, built in the region's slate schist and white tufa, two materials that are emblematic of the architecture of the Loire Valley. The main building, of balanced proportions, probably has a simple rectangular floor plan, enhanced by regular spans of mullioned or small-wooded windows, depending on the period of construction. The roof, probably covered in Anjou slate - the region's king material - has a steep slope typical of the Loire style, topped with brick or tufa stone chimney stacks. The architecture as a whole shows a good dose of sobriety, without ostentation but with an obvious attention to proportion and detail: moulded window frames, a delicate cornice, perhaps a staircase with a few steps opening onto the parklands. This type of residence, halfway between a rural manor house and a bourgeois holiday home, is representative of the domestic architecture of 17th-19th century Anjou. The park is the other major architectural feature of the site. Organised in terraces that follow the natural topography of the hillside, it employs garden techniques inherited both from the French classical tradition - rigorous axes, controlled levels - and from the landscape influences of the nineteenth century. The tall trees and shrubs, combined with ornamental beds and the possible remains of old parterres, form a green setting that contributes fully to the heritage value of the whole.
Related Figures
Propriétaires successifs de la famille bourgeoise ou nobiliaire fondatrice du domaine (XVIIe-XVIIIe siècle)Négociants en vins angevins ayant contribué au développement viticole de SavennièresArchitecte ou maître maçon local à l'origine de la construction du logis principalJardinier ou paysagiste du XIXe siècle ayant redessiné le parc selon les modes romantiquesPropriétaires contemporains ayant initié et accompagné la démarche d'inscription aux Monuments Historiques (2022)
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Parc et maison de la Bizolière located?
Parc et maison de la Bizolière is located in Savennières, Maine-et-Loire department, Pays de la Loire region, France.
When was Parc et maison de la Bizolière built?
Parc et maison de la Bizolière dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Parc et maison de la Bizolière open to visitors?
Parc et maison de la Bizolière is currently closed to visitors.