A family history.
| Completed in 1850, the castle “Chateau de Rivière” is the work of the architect Phidias Vestier who realized many structures in the Region. The 19th revival style "neo renaissance"was put at that time and the facade of the castle is decorated with “Tuffeau”, carved in a fashion known as "Troubadour". The stables date back to 1820 and were restored at around 1900. | |
Désiré de rivière | The castle was built by “Désiré de Rivère”, the last to bear this name. This man, who was born in 1803 and died in 1900, crossed a time when society and technology made a great leap forward. He was acquired to new ideas and he decided to raze the old castle (after he burnt), which was a fortified structure without comfort. He commissioned one architect to design a mansion, or "Maison Bourgeoise" according to its terms… His only daughter married the son of General empire and Baron “Dujon”. She gave birth to a daughter “Marie Therese” who married “Eynard de Monteynard”, great grandfather of the current owner. In 1936 the family “de Monteynard” made Riviere his main residence, and began to design the park of the castle, by recreating the garden “à la Française”, that you still can admire by now. |
| The family “de Monteynard” is from Dauphiné orgin, where she was known since the year 956. One of its members, Louis François, was secretary of state during the reign of Louis XV. This close friend of the influent marquise de Pompadour, founded the school of cavalry at Saumur whose equestrian legacy still shines around the world through the famous “cadre noir”. |
Louis François de Monteynard
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| The stables of the castle have always been inhabited by the staff of the castle and in particular by the lads who lived with horses that were present in the stables until 1990. |  |
