MONTBOULARD
THE HISTORY OF MONTBOULARD
East of the old village of Soyaux and south of the village of Antornac, Montboulard is a group of buildings arranged around a central courtyard. It includes the main house, its former barn, and outbuildings on either side. Although its architecture was extensively remodeled in the 19th century, the ensemble has retained its typical 17th-century character.
16th – 17th CENTURIES
In 1599, Jean Leveilh was lord of Montboulard.
In 1611, land exchanges were carried out with other inhabitants of the parish residing in the village of "Lion". These transactions were recorded by the royal notary of Angoulême.
In 1637, François de La Quintinie, a lawyer at the presidial court of Angoulême, became the owner of the manor house and fief of Montboulard.
At the end of the 17th century, the property was ceded to Gilles Delamarre, former steward to the Bishop of Angoulême.
18th CENTURY
Antoine Delamarre, son of Gilles, inherited the family estate. Despite his priestly duties, in 1705 he declared he was "operating the farm of his liaison" in order to avoid being listed on the tax rolls. At the request of the tax collector, the inhabitants of Soyaux protested.
In 1738, before his death, he designated his Bourdin cousins as his heirs. Upon his death, an inventory of his property was drawn up at the request of Jean Bourdin, Jean Faunie, Sieur du Plessis, and Marie Bourdin, his heirs.
The inheritance is substantial: the house is large, the walnut furniture is plentiful and in good condition, and the linen and hemp bedding is abundant. The tableware (dishes, forks, etc.) is made of pewter. Four oxen, a horse, young pigs, and other animals are listed in the inventory. The farmyard and dovecote house various birds.
In 1739, Louis Bourdin, a merchant and former consular judge in Angoulême, settled in Montboulard with his family.
His son, Pierre Bourdin, a royal advisor at the seneschal's court and presiding judge's court of Angoumois, appropriated two hundred hectares of coppice and stubble in 1759 at a place called "Brandes de Soyaux," where peasants traditionally enjoyed common grazing rights. This led to lengthy legal disputes between the inhabitants of Soyaux and Master Bourdin. The upheavals of the Revolution brought these disputes to an end, and the Bourdin family retained ownership of their lands and the Montboulard manor house.
The Bourdin family also owned the lands of La Geoffreterie (now Jauffretière), which were later sold to the Blanloeil family. These vast oak woods were preserved by the Bourdins. Two wells, often dry in summer, provided water for livestock and people before the arrival of running water.
As early as 1739, Louis Bourdin was in conflict with his neighbors in the village of Antornac over the damage caused by their oxen in his meadows.
Pierre Bourdin succeeded his father. Due to his position as honorary advisor to the presidial court, he claimed tax exemption. On October 17, 1751, all the inhabitants of Soyaux protested.
1980s - present day
In 1982, Mr. Madigout and Mrs. Blanchon acquired Montboulard from the Bourdin family. After three years of renovations, during which they actively participated, the estate opened to the public. Offering self-catering cottages, bed and breakfast accommodations, the owners have prioritized a warm and welcoming atmosphere. "My wish," Mr. Madigout explained to La Charente Libre, "is to create a pleasant atmosphere. We want to make people dream."
In 2001, Héloïse Champierre de Villeneuve and Arnaud de Garcignies became owners of the estate.
In May 2017, Héloïse and her husband Emmanuel Barbet sold Montboulard to John Hedges and Marc Sotkiewicz, originally from the United States, who are the current owners. Today, Montboulard welcomes a wide variety of guests in its five bedrooms and eleven cottages, perpetuating the traditions established over many years.
