Montpellier follies
Encyclopedia
Surrounding the French
city of Montpellier
are a number of chateaux, old country mansions or follies
, built by wealthy merchants, from the 18th century onwards. Some of them had and still have their own wine
s. Jean Giral
was amongst the architect
s hired by the merchants.
The follies are the visible proof of the wealth of the region in the 18th century. Most of them are built in Renaissance
style, with decorative gardens surrounding them. These gardens are designed in a 'natural' way, in a style resembling but pre-dating English garden
style.
Nowadays, the follies are still owned by wealthy families, and some of them still make wine (especially Flaugergues). They are mostly surrounded by suburb
s, highway
s, outlet stores and the like. Below is a list of the chateaux:
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
city of Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
are a number of chateaux, old country mansions or follies
Folly
In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or other class of building to which it belongs...
, built by wealthy merchants, from the 18th century onwards. Some of them had and still have their own wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
s. Jean Giral
Jean Giral
Jean Antoine Giral was a French architect from Montpellier. He designed a number of buildings and structures in this city.- Works :* 1715 Château de la Mogère, Montpellier * 1723 Hôtel de Cambacérès, Montpellier...
was amongst the architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
s hired by the merchants.
The follies are the visible proof of the wealth of the region in the 18th century. Most of them are built in Renaissance
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
style, with decorative gardens surrounding them. These gardens are designed in a 'natural' way, in a style resembling but pre-dating English garden
English garden
The English garden, also called English landscape park , is a style of Landscape garden which emerged in England in the early 18th century, and spread across Europe, replacing the more formal, symmetrical Garden à la française of the 17th century as the principal gardening style of Europe. The...
style.
Nowadays, the follies are still owned by wealthy families, and some of them still make wine (especially Flaugergues). They are mostly surrounded by suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s, highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s, outlet stores and the like. Below is a list of the chateaux:
- Château de FlaugerguesChâteau de FlaugerguesThe Château de Flaugergues is a castle near Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, southern France. It is one of many follies erected by wealthy merchants surrounding the city. The castle preserves antique furniture and collection of Flemish tapestries....
43°36′37.08"N 3°55′12.15"E - Château de la MogèreChâteau de la MogèreThe Château de la Mogère is a mansion house near the city of Montpellier in the French region of Languedoc-Roussillon. It is one of many follies surrounding Montpellier, built by wealthy merchants in the 18th century....
http://www.lamogere.fr 43°36′2"N 3°55′33"E - Château d'O 43.63322222°N 3.839030556°W
- Château de la Mosson 43.61372222°N 3.819119444°W