Parc du château de la Rivière Bourdet

Not far from the Forest of Roumare, in Quevillon, there is the park of the Rivière Bourdet. In the heart of this vast property, a 17th century chateau built with Caumont stones, 18th century outbuildings and a dovecote dating back to 1668. The house has accommodated some exceptional writers such as Voltaire and Balzac.

I arrived by car and I entered through a large gate. A gravel path showed me the way to go. From there, I saw a vast expanse of grass in the distance. The path is lined by trees and various buildings that must be part of the chateau's outbuildings. Speaking of which, the path led me straight to the château! It is imposing and majestic. I parked in the little courtyard at its foot. So, is this what it feels like to live the life of Riley? I left my car to venture further away. I was surrounded by greenery. I strolled in the park, stopping to admire some trees which caught my eye because of their size and age. The park is so big that I could walk there a long time. I felt the need to sit down for a moment. The grass was so green and tender, I had been wanting to sit on it since I arrived. I made the most of this moment to close my eyes and take deep breaths of fresh air. The singing of the birds blended with the sound of the leaves rustling with the light wind. A little longer and I could fall asleep!

I continued my walk and ended up at the back of the chateau. I understood why Voltaire and Balzac have enjoyed staying there. The environment is serene, tranquil and ideal to contemplate. I could imagine them wandering around looking for inspiration. I eventually reached the edge of the park and took in the view before me. There were no signs of modern life in the distance. I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere and it was very pleasant. I walked back slowly towards the chateau, still surrounded by trees that seemed to be a hundred year old for most of them. Close to the chateau, I observed a superb oak tree that could almost outshine the building behind it. A stone's throw away from the house, there is a dovecote, whose construction date is displayed on the pediment: 1668. Just like every time I come across an old building, I felt impressed and fascinated. Here the stones, just like the trees, are reminders of the history of the place.

As I left the park and the chateau, I slowly returned to reality. A little bird told me that I would certainly come back here again to recharge my batteries!