History of Château Boisniard

Le Château du Boisniard seems to have been occupied at the first ages of civilization. We have found cut stones in the famous rock-crystal “the Black Diamond" of Chambretaud, but also, ore very rich in iron that proves the presence of metal workshop dating from Gallo-Roman age.

Numerous granite blocks present in the park are probably megaliths, the evidence of a Druid cult. We can say that some rocks remind us of "Sacrifice stones". The tradition has baptized a few: "Les fesses de Gargantua" or "La pierre de la Mariée" (we have to touch it to fall in love with someone).

So, it's on this hill, rich on spirits and earth forces, that the knight Jehan du Puy du Fou, Lord of Bois – Nyart (as we write it in the XVth century), built his castle in 1407. Puy du Fou's family sold it in 1643 to pay their debts. Until the revolution, le Château du Boisniard passed from legacy on wedding, for example several coats of arms, dating from this era, decorate the ceiling of the old chapel (room number 3 today).

One person marks the Castle's life: Charles-Philippe Grelier, Lord of Boisniard and knight of Concise (other shire in Chambretaud). As a brilliant officer of the Royal Navy, he travels all over the world and brings back a collection of exotic birds which inhabits Boisniard aviaries.

In 1793, Grelier's children fight in the Vendean Army with the Marquis of la Rochejacquelein. The Boisniard witnesses the sad hours of terror and infernal columns. The last occupants hide in the surrounding countryside and the Castle is invaded by a Republican guard that plunders it but prevents it to be burned down.

During the XIXth and XXth century, Le Château du Boisniard is sold and transmitted several times. We can see from De Saint Hubert family, De Hillerin du Boistissandeau, de Hargues, le Tourneur de la Borde, Desme de Lisle, De Geloës d'Esloo, de Suyrot, to Paul Cavallier, forge-owners of Pont-à-Mousson who make the transition between nobility and industrial upper classes.

In the 1950's, a furniture maker develops in Chambretaud, Griffon's home. A young cabinet–maker, war orphan, is initiated into this cabinet, while his mother is servant in the Boisniard. Drove by his only faith of self-taught person, he makes fortune creating his firm Durand–Novéstyle in Les Herbiers and buys Le Château du Boisniard in 1978. Maurice Durand is fond of woods, trees and old books that he collects. Nothing is too beautiful for the Boisniard with an English park and a luxuous residence. The fireplace is made up with letters D and N for Durand and Normand, his wife's maiden name.

In 1989, it's an Englishman, Joseph Haypworth who buys the Castle and renames it "Château Joseph". Unfortunately, converted into amateur Hotel-Restaurant, he goes bankrupt.

A man of Cholet, Patrick Bouju, buys the Castle in 1994 and sells it in December of 2004 to Jean-Michel Mousset, a transport entrepreneur of Vendée who is upset to see a beautiful patrimony to fall into ruin. With his wife, Louisanne, who manages today this lovely Hotel de Charme and Gourmet Restaurant, they decided to give back its pedigrees and to make it an art of life reference in Vendee.