Nymphée and Piedefer Domain

The wooded park of the 19th century is arranged along a canal and overlooks a 17th century French garden and an orangery. At the heart of the estate, the Nymphée: a room decorated with rockeries and shells of the late 17th century.
The Nymphée is listed as a Historical Monument since March 22, 1983 and is one of the rare examples still existing of this type of decor, very popular under Louis XIV.
Called nymphaeum, from the name of the Greek deities of the rivers, woods and mountains, it is a decor very fashionable at the time, as are the shells collections in the "cabinets of curiosity". Inspired by Antiquity and revived under the Italian Renaissance, the Nymphée intends to represent the mystery of creation, before becoming an inevitable part of gardens and buildings decoration, a cool place conducive to relaxation.
The vaulted room construction dates from 1674 to 1692, date of the estate purchase by Mrs. Despinville. The room is then enriched with shells and rockery from older sets coming from a destroyed house that was deep in the park.