Château de Chazoux

English translation

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History

The wine-growing estate of Chazoux at Hurigny is structured in the 18th century. A castle or master's house is attested in 1809. From the 1880s onwards, the owners Alphonse Michoud and his wife Thérèse de Boissieu undertake to reorganise the estate. If the external architecture of the castle remains sober, the interiors are richly decorated. The patrons call upon the studio of Victor Bussière for the painted decor of the living rooms and bedrooms, painted decor completed by quality wallpapers. In the taste of the 19th century, each of the rooms thus restores a different historical atmosphere, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Louis XV period. The small living room and the large living rooms decorated by Victor Bussière present light tones in the Louis XV style. The dining room with its French ceiling is Renaissance inspired. The neo-gothic library offers a monumental fireplace and a decor of wainscoting with napkin folds integrating a bookcase piece of furniture. The furniture designed for the room bears the coat of arms of the patrons. A small neo-Renaissance cabinet completes this suite. On the upper floor several bedrooms present painted decors attributed to Victor Bussière and wallpaper decors. The decorative treatment of the corridors and staircase, wood with light tones enhanced with coloured lines, brings great homogeneity to the whole. For the park, Marc-Antoine II and Gabriel II Luizet are called upon. Issued from a dynasty of Lyonnais horticulturists, these propose a park with an irregular layout. All the characteristics of the Luizet parks are present: paths with wide curves, lawns, ornamental structures. Several belvederes offer viewpoints over the great landscape. The outbuildings are installed to the north of the castle, notably an orangery and a heated greenhouse in the extension of the east wing of the castle. An ice-house is fitted out under one of the belvederes to the north of the estate.

Description

Of modest dimensions, the castle of Chazoux and its garden present all the elements of great houses and vast parks: suite of reception rooms and cabinet richly decorated in the castle, belvederes and ornamental structures in the garden. The coherence of the interior decor has been preserved, and presents great unity with its corridors and staircases with wainscoting in light wood enhanced with coloured lines, this sober and discreet decor constitutes a sort of introduction to the larger more richly ornamented rooms. The suite of small living room, large living room, dining room, library and cabinet is remarkable for its preservation and the variety of styles which are presented there. Alphonse Michoud and Thérèse de Boissieu are very much present there with their initials and coat of arms. The eclecticism of the decor and its richness are characteristic of the 19th century. The recourse to recognised artists, the Luizet for the park, Victor Bussière for the paintings, also testifies to the ambition of the patrons.