Who designed the Temple of Bacchus?

Attribution to Victor Louis, the Bordeaux architect, is traditional but undocumented. This garden folly from the third quarter of the 18th century was probably the residence of a vintner.

Why was the château never rebuilt according to Victor Louis's project?

Nicolas Dupré de Saint-Maur left his position in Berry for Bordeaux in 1776, the year he commissioned this design. His departure and declining interest in the estate explain why the château was never realized.

What remains of the 18th-century gardens?

Several elements survive: pathways, the kitchen garden wall, the orangery, and the Temple of Bacchus. The gardens were partially recomposed in 1862 by Paul de Lavenne de Choulot, making their original layout difficult to read today.

Château de Saint-Maur

Saint-Maur Castle

Argent-sur-Sauldre

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No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Argent-sur-Sauldre

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Stage national, défilé et massed bandSun, Nov 8 · château des Stuarts8 km

Château de Saint-Maur stands in Argent-sur-Sauldre (Cher), in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. The building is listed as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: second half of the 18th century). The building is privately owned and no visits are on record.

The château de Saint-Maur, acquired in 1765 by Nicolas Dupré de Saint-Maur, an intendant of the Bourges region, underwent major transformation between 1765 and 1776. Its U-shaped plan organises itself around a courtyard opening toward the church; the estate experienced substantial restructuring with the demolition of older fortifications and the reconstruction of farm buildings following physiocratic principles. Architect Victor Louis is credited with designing a remarkable garden folly, the Temple of Bacchus, a modest structure that once overlooked a vineyard.

What to know

The French-style gardens created around 1776 according to a plan by Defer and the principles of Duhamel du Monceau are partly preserved, including pathways, a kitchen garden wall, and the orangery.
The Temple of Bacchus, probably once a vintner's residence attributed to Victor Louis, has been listed as a historic monument since 2002.
The château was never rebuilt according to Victor Louis's 1776 project; only a storage building adjoining the front courtyard was constructed from 1778 onward.
Intendant Dupré de Saint-Maur left Berry for Bordeaux in 1776, and interest in the estate appears to have declined in the 1780s.

Where this château is

Argent-sur-Sauldre · Cher · Centre-Val de Loire

Map of the area around Château de Saint-Maur

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

18410 Argent-sur-Sauldre

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Listed historic monument (classé); Mérimée record PA18000014
Period of construction: second half of the 18th century

Frequently asked

Who designed the Temple of Bacchus?: Attribution to Victor Louis, the Bordeaux architect, is traditional but undocumented. This garden folly from the third quarter of the 18th century was probably the residence of a vintner.
Why was the château never rebuilt according to Victor Louis's project?: Nicolas Dupré de Saint-Maur left his position in Berry for Bordeaux in 1776, the year he commissioned this design. His departure and declining interest in the estate explain why the château was never realized.
What remains of the 18th-century gardens?: Several elements survive: pathways, the kitchen garden wall, the orangery, and the Temple of Bacchus. The gardens were partially recomposed in 1862 by Paul de Lavenne de Choulot, making their original layout difficult to read today.