grand et petit du Blottereau
Robert Seheult II re-built the manor of the grand Blottereau with Portail and Ceineray. (1) The estate of
Blottereau consisted of the Large and Small Blottereau. In 1405, it belonged to Robert de Sesmaisons, then
from 1428-1443 it belonged to William Baborin. The estate of the Grand-Blottereau is ennobled in 1453 in to
Pierre Raboceau, secretary of the duke. It then becomes the property of Pierre de Montigné in 1505, Jean du
Ponceau in 1560, Bertrand then Guy Glé and Jeanne de Bouillé, lord and lady of The Costardaye in 1602. In
1604, Catherine de Parthenay, widow of the viscount René de Rohan sells the property for 15 000 pounds to
Michel Juchault and Marguerite Le Serf, lord and lady of Perron. Ownership of property remains in the
Juchault family (or Juchaud) of Lamoricière until December 4th, 1741, when it is sold by Louis Christophe
Juchault to Gabriel Michel, merchant in La Fosse and lord of Doulon. The property then passes into the
hands of the families of Seigne or de Seigne later (in the person of William de Seigne, lord of the Perrines,
still with it in 1774) and Barber which have as heirs the Budan du Vivier, of Monti and Saint-Preu. It is the
family of Seigne that asks Portail, Scheult and Ceineray to build the manor in 1762. (1)
The building dates from the 18th century. The building is exactly similar, on the outside, with the original.
The property was given to the town of Nantes in 1905. Tropical greenhouses currently house approximately
600 species of plants. The total surface area is 430 m². The garden in front of the castle has geometrical
forms.
The occupation of the site antedates the Middle Ages, but the current castle was rebuilt by Seheult, Portail,
and Ceineray in 1762. The last of the proprietors of the area, J - F.Thomas Dobrée, made it a gift to the city
of Nantes in 1905. Thereafter, the property was put at the disposal of the army. Finally the park was opened
to the public in the beginning of the 1970s. This park of 37 ha offers a botanical delight thanks to its tropical
greenhouses. They have an orangery and pool. The greenhouses contain a collection of utilitarian tropical
plants unique in France, with specimens coming from hot climate zones of the five continents. Varied items
are inside (textiles, spices, perfumes, medicinal plantsetc. ) because it initially was destined for the pupils of
school of trade. (2)
The ship-owner Thomas Dobrée left Grand Blottereau Park to the City. The 18th century château by the
architects has a French-style knot garden using classical designs along its main frontage. The property is
made up of a number of elements: The park itself is informally landscaped with plantings of exotic species
such as eucalyptus, pomegranate trees, olive trees and mimosas. For the last 10 years, the Fête des
Plantes flower show has been held on the wide lawns on the second week-end in September. In addition,
several sports facilities are made available to local people and schools: gymnasium, basketball, handball and
tennis courts, football pitches, alleys for playing boules, etc. Opposite the château, the Tropical
Greenhouses which used to be managed by the Business School have now been taken over by the Local
Authority. They house France's only collection of exotic commercially grown plants such as rice, cotton,
coffee, cocoa, ebony, mahogany, and vetiver. In the part devoted to vegetables there are tubs of citrus trees
- lemons, tangerines and grapefruit - as well as short-lived food plants such as hot peppers, asparagus peas
and peanuts are on public display. The Local Authority's Gardener and nursery produce the foliage and
flowering plants, trees and shrubs used to decorate public buildings and gardens. (3)
Thomas buys the Grand-Blottereau from Doulon on February 28th, 1835 for 130 000 francs [that is about
2.1 million francs 1997] from madam de Vernéty, widow of the general ticket collector of finances of Loire -
Lower George Law de Lauriston. The building is allocated, without certain proof, to the architect Jean-baptist
Ceineray (in addition to Seheult and Portail - see above) who built it for Gabriel Michel, manager in Nantes of
the Company of India. The domain stretched partly over the meadow of Mallows, what gave opportunity for
Dobrée to indulge to his love of promenades and horticulture. Grand-Blottereau distinguishes itself by its
plan composed of a main building and two galleries with arcades linking it up with lateral pavilions, that from
the east being the ancient chapel, transformed into room of billiards by Dobrée and that from the west
sheltering the flats of the servants. (4)
There is a painting of the mansion:
Alfred-Victor Roussin (1812-vers 1900)
Le Grand-Blottereau à Doulon, juillet 1883.
Aquarelle sur papier, signée A. Roussin / 7bre 1883,
H. 25 cm, l. 35,6 cm
Nantes, Musée départemental Dobrée, inv. 56.4244
Important Dates (5)
1360:
Grand-Blottereau is a manorial fief.
Middle of the 18th century:
Gabriel Michel, manager of the Company of India constructs the actual
manor between 1742 and 1747. Seheult, Portail, and Ceineray rebuild it in 1762 (see above)
At the end of the 19th century:
Ownership belongs to Thomas Dobrée, last representative of a rich family of
owners of a shipping company having begun its destiny in the triangular trade. Thomas Dobrée
entrusts, in his death in 1895, his destiny to his friend Hippolyte Durand-Gasselin by naming him
sole legatee " to distribute his considerable property and which he had enjoyed as a selfish man."
1902:
Installation of the pulpit of Colonial Agronomy of the College of higher education of Trade, building
of conservatories and a garden. Building of an experimental meanness the milk of which is
intended for the social writings of the City.
1905:
Durand-Gasselin gives in the city of ownership.
During the First World war:
10 hectares are put in the disposition of the military authorities which install in it billeting and
hospital of the American Task force.
1927:
The Local Florist is transferred of the Garden of Plants to Grand-Blottereau, on 2 hectares of
domain.
Between the two World Wars:
The city lodges necessitous families in groups of huts constructed by the Americans.
At the beginning of the Second World war:
Grand Blottereau receives two British companies (an English, a Scottish) which leave graffitis in
meanness, then some German who construct, close to the castle, a blockhouse (it will be destroyed
with one thousand troubles in 1970s). They destroy the old groups of huts to construct it of new in
the site of the actual sports installations.
References:
1) http://www.infobretagne.com/doulon.htm
2) http://www.reception.com/US/nantes/blottereC.htm
3) http://www.seve.nantes.fr
4) http://culture.cg44.fr/Musee/historique/famille/collfotblo.html
5) http://www.seve.nantes.fr/Lesjardins/info/170.htm
Le parc du Grand Blottereau
Parks & gardens and Environment Dept. of the city of Nantes
PARC DU GRAND BLOTTEREAU (practical information)
Blottereau consisted of the Large and Small Blottereau. In 1405, it belonged to Robert de Sesmaisons, then
from 1428-1443 it belonged to William Baborin. The estate of the Grand-Blottereau is ennobled in 1453 in to
Pierre Raboceau, secretary of the duke. It then becomes the property of Pierre de Montigné in 1505, Jean du
Ponceau in 1560, Bertrand then Guy Glé and Jeanne de Bouillé, lord and lady of The Costardaye in 1602. In
1604, Catherine de Parthenay, widow of the viscount René de Rohan sells the property for 15 000 pounds to
Michel Juchault and Marguerite Le Serf, lord and lady of Perron. Ownership of property remains in the
Juchault family (or Juchaud) of Lamoricière until December 4th, 1741, when it is sold by Louis Christophe
Juchault to Gabriel Michel, merchant in La Fosse and lord of Doulon. The property then passes into the
hands of the families of Seigne or de Seigne later (in the person of William de Seigne, lord of the Perrines,
still with it in 1774) and Barber which have as heirs the Budan du Vivier, of Monti and Saint-Preu. It is the
family of Seigne that asks Portail, Scheult and Ceineray to build the manor in 1762. (1)
The building dates from the 18th century. The building is exactly similar, on the outside, with the original.
The property was given to the town of Nantes in 1905. Tropical greenhouses currently house approximately
600 species of plants. The total surface area is 430 m². The garden in front of the castle has geometrical
forms.
The occupation of the site antedates the Middle Ages, but the current castle was rebuilt by Seheult, Portail,
and Ceineray in 1762. The last of the proprietors of the area, J - F.Thomas Dobrée, made it a gift to the city
of Nantes in 1905. Thereafter, the property was put at the disposal of the army. Finally the park was opened
to the public in the beginning of the 1970s. This park of 37 ha offers a botanical delight thanks to its tropical
greenhouses. They have an orangery and pool. The greenhouses contain a collection of utilitarian tropical
plants unique in France, with specimens coming from hot climate zones of the five continents. Varied items
are inside (textiles, spices, perfumes, medicinal plantsetc. ) because it initially was destined for the pupils of
school of trade. (2)
The ship-owner Thomas Dobrée left Grand Blottereau Park to the City. The 18th century château by the
architects has a French-style knot garden using classical designs along its main frontage. The property is
made up of a number of elements: The park itself is informally landscaped with plantings of exotic species
such as eucalyptus, pomegranate trees, olive trees and mimosas. For the last 10 years, the Fête des
Plantes flower show has been held on the wide lawns on the second week-end in September. In addition,
several sports facilities are made available to local people and schools: gymnasium, basketball, handball and
tennis courts, football pitches, alleys for playing boules, etc. Opposite the château, the Tropical
Greenhouses which used to be managed by the Business School have now been taken over by the Local
Authority. They house France's only collection of exotic commercially grown plants such as rice, cotton,
coffee, cocoa, ebony, mahogany, and vetiver. In the part devoted to vegetables there are tubs of citrus trees
- lemons, tangerines and grapefruit - as well as short-lived food plants such as hot peppers, asparagus peas
and peanuts are on public display. The Local Authority's Gardener and nursery produce the foliage and
flowering plants, trees and shrubs used to decorate public buildings and gardens. (3)
Thomas buys the Grand-Blottereau from Doulon on February 28th, 1835 for 130 000 francs [that is about
2.1 million francs 1997] from madam de Vernéty, widow of the general ticket collector of finances of Loire -
Lower George Law de Lauriston. The building is allocated, without certain proof, to the architect Jean-baptist
Ceineray (in addition to Seheult and Portail - see above) who built it for Gabriel Michel, manager in Nantes of
the Company of India. The domain stretched partly over the meadow of Mallows, what gave opportunity for
Dobrée to indulge to his love of promenades and horticulture. Grand-Blottereau distinguishes itself by its
plan composed of a main building and two galleries with arcades linking it up with lateral pavilions, that from
the east being the ancient chapel, transformed into room of billiards by Dobrée and that from the west
sheltering the flats of the servants. (4)
There is a painting of the mansion:
Alfred-Victor Roussin (1812-vers 1900)
Le Grand-Blottereau à Doulon, juillet 1883.
Aquarelle sur papier, signée A. Roussin / 7bre 1883,
H. 25 cm, l. 35,6 cm
Nantes, Musée départemental Dobrée, inv. 56.4244
Important Dates (5)
1360:
Grand-Blottereau is a manorial fief.
Middle of the 18th century:
Gabriel Michel, manager of the Company of India constructs the actual
manor between 1742 and 1747. Seheult, Portail, and Ceineray rebuild it in 1762 (see above)
At the end of the 19th century:
Ownership belongs to Thomas Dobrée, last representative of a rich family of
owners of a shipping company having begun its destiny in the triangular trade. Thomas Dobrée
entrusts, in his death in 1895, his destiny to his friend Hippolyte Durand-Gasselin by naming him
sole legatee " to distribute his considerable property and which he had enjoyed as a selfish man."
1902:
Installation of the pulpit of Colonial Agronomy of the College of higher education of Trade, building
of conservatories and a garden. Building of an experimental meanness the milk of which is
intended for the social writings of the City.
1905:
Durand-Gasselin gives in the city of ownership.
During the First World war:
10 hectares are put in the disposition of the military authorities which install in it billeting and
hospital of the American Task force.
1927:
The Local Florist is transferred of the Garden of Plants to Grand-Blottereau, on 2 hectares of
domain.
Between the two World Wars:
The city lodges necessitous families in groups of huts constructed by the Americans.
At the beginning of the Second World war:
Grand Blottereau receives two British companies (an English, a Scottish) which leave graffitis in
meanness, then some German who construct, close to the castle, a blockhouse (it will be destroyed
with one thousand troubles in 1970s). They destroy the old groups of huts to construct it of new in
the site of the actual sports installations.
References:
1) http://www.infobretagne.com/doulon.htm
2) http://www.reception.com/US/nantes/blottereC.htm
3) http://www.seve.nantes.fr
4) http://culture.cg44.fr/Musee/historique/famille/collfotblo.html
5) http://www.seve.nantes.fr/Lesjardins/info/170.htm
Le parc du Grand Blottereau
Parks & gardens and Environment Dept. of the city of Nantes
PARC DU GRAND BLOTTEREAU (practical information)
Photo: Roger Seheult