Historique

The family
In 1891, Rene de la BROSSE, grand-father of Mrs. de BEAUMONT, buys the castle to be closer to his wife’s family (Suzanne CHAPER), of which the mother, Mrs. Eugene CHAPER (grand-daughter of Alphonse PERIER) lives the Castle of Eybens.

Rene de la BROSSE was a collaborator of Aristide BERGES who installed the Hydro-electric power in the Alps.
Already owner of the castle of Vizille the dynasty of the PERIER (which has nothing to do with mineral water PERRIER) had a very important influence in the French history during the the revolutionary period and all the XIXth century.

High middle-class family, there was among her members a cofounder of the “Bank de France”, some deputies of Isere, a Prime Minister of Louis-Philippe and a President of the third Republic.

Coming from the Trièves, this family was already one of most powerful of the Dauphiné in the middle of XVIIIth .

It is mainly Claude PERIER and his children, who gave famous political and economical men to France. In the years preceding the Revolution, Claude gives a great broadth to the commercial activities developed by his father with the creation of the 3rd Company of the Indies of which Claude is the administrator and the diversificator, and with the purchase of a large plantation of Cane sugar at St Domingue. In 1780 he bought the Castle of Vizille.he created there a manufacture of fabrics and weaving.

It is interesting to note that this large middle-class man from the Dauphiné installed the workshops of a modern industry in the old residence of the Connétable de Lesdiguières, famous warrior, general lieutenant of the king in the Dauphiné during the XVIIth

Lord of Vizille before the French Revolution. Claude PÉRIER will take a part in this revolutionary trend by organizing the “assemblée de Vizille” wich will request a national political assembly at PARIS, and begun the french révolution.

On May 10th, 1788 the King decided to limit the power of the Parliament of the Dauphiné , which always criticized the Royal power in context of an economic and political crisis. The members of Parliament, who had too much expressed their dissatisfaction, then were prohibited to have a get-together on June 7, 1788. This injustice caused the rising of the Residents of Grenoble which attacked the troops of the King with the tiles of the roofs of Grenoble. The “day of the tiles” was one of the first events marking the first steps of the French revolution.

In July, Claude Perier accommodates, in the room of “jeu de paume” of his castle, the meeting, prohibited, of the three orders of Dauphine in order to asserting the restoring of the Parliament and the convocation of the States General of the Kingdom.

Summarized genealogy

Paintings in the dining room and miniature portraits in the library

Alphonse PERIER Married to Antoinette de TOURNDADRE (Ancestor of Mrs. de BEAUMONT) 7th sun of Claude.
He bought the Castle of Eybens in 1810 and was a mayor of Eybens of 1811 to 1831, Député of Isere (1834 – 1846), general adviser of Isere, Administrateur of the Bank of France.

Partisan of monarchy, but disappointed by his policy, it resigns in 1831. He will return in policy when his brother,Casimir, founds his government and remains there during 18 years

His wife, Antoinette de TOURNADRE, were the Grenoble egery of Henry Beyle Stendhal, who describes her as “ the most beautiful woman of Dauphine” in one of his letter with Mounier.

Alphonse PERIER and Henry BEYLE STENDHAL (the famous french wrighter of “the chatreuse of Parme”, “the red and black”) had, both, the famous “Abbé Reilhanne” like tutor.. His daughter, Elisabeth married Mr. Henri GIROUD.

Bernard de TOURNADRE and his wife Bonne Elisabeth de LAIDET
Parents of Antoinette de TOURNADRE (wife of Alphonse PERIER)
Brigadier, It directed the garrison of Sisteron when Napoleon returned from the Isle of Elbe. He sent a message to King Louis XVIII awaring him that he could still stop Napoleon in Sisteron but after it will be too late. The order of Louis XVIII reached him too late, Napoleon had already passed…

It is interesting to note that he is wearing the medal of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor (republican medal) and of Knight of Saint Louis (monarchical medal).

In the library you can also see his son who was sent by the Commander of the Garrison of Grenoble to stop Napoleon, but he arrived too late, and finally joined with him on “prairie de la rencontre” at Laffrey.

Achille CHAPER married the daughter of Camille TEISSEIRE (national Agent of Convention during the revolution, and liquor creator, then syrups TEISSEIRE) who had married itself Marine PERRIER (daughter of Claude PERRIER). Their son, Eugene CHAPER, married Valentine GIROUD, garnd-daughter of Alphonse PERIER, and grandmother of Suzanne CHAPER

Pierre de la BROSSE and Anne de la CHAPELLE
Grandfather of Rene de la BROSSE, which married Suzanne CHAPER;

Scipion PERIER
3rd son of Claude. Administrator of the Mines of Anzin in 1801 whose family is the principal shareholder. Mines which Zola took as a starting point to write GERMINAL. Founder with Casimir (his brother) of the PERIER’s BANK in Paris from which he ensured the direction, as well as companies of which they were owners (2 sugar refineries towards Paris, 2 spinning mills, a distilling, a foundry at Chaillot). He introduced in France the lighting with gas.

He founded with another banker, the “CAISSE D’EPARGNE”, of which he was one of the directors, then he was regent of the Bank of France ( his father, claude,was one of the founders).
He founded also the Royal Company of Insurance (ancestor of the GAN) and married Louise de DIETRICH who, young girl, accompanied Mr Rouget de L’ISLE at the piano when he composed the “Marseillaise” at Strasbourg.

Augustin PERIER
The 1st son of Claude was one of the first student of the Polytechnic School. He takes again the businesses of his father (manufacture of fabrics) and develops a banking (Perier’s Bank in Paris).

Deputy of Isere in 1829, he was,politically, on the “left center” beside Casimir PERIER. As him it was named by Louis Philippe Pair of France, President of the general Council of Isere. His sun, Adolphe PERIER married, Nathalie de LAFAYETE, grand-daughter of the famous General de LAFAYETTE, friend of Georges WASHINGTON.

Casimir PERIER
4th son of Claude.

He founded the Perier’s Bank with Scipion, Régent of the bank of France (before Scipion), Député of Paris (Left side – Constitutional monarchy), Minister of Interior Department of Louis Philippe, 1st Minister, Pair of France. Died because of the cholera (1832) by visiting the hospitals.

His son, Auguste Casimir PERIER, Ambassador of France, Interior’s minister of Mr THIERS’s government.

Its grandson Jean Casimir PERIER was Deputy of the Seine, President of the Council (1893), President of the Republic (1894 – 1895), after the murder of President Carnot.

History of the Dauphiné
The territory is occupied by many tribes that Rome gathers. Burgondes then the Frank ones seize some before it belongs to the kingdom of Provence.
From 1029, starts to constitute the Dauphine one which integrates the kingdom of France in 1349. Subjected to the risks of the wars, it still keeps a certain independence until 1661.
It is the leaven of the Revolution in which it takes an active part. In 1790, it is divided into 3 departments: Isere, Drome and Hautes-Alpes.

For more information consult:
http://badind.chez-alice.fr/Dauphine
http://www.atelierdesdauphins.com/index.htm

History of Grenoble

Grenoble , the capital of the département of Isère, is located at the foot of Mount Rachais southeast of Lyon and 135 miles north of Marseille. It is situated on the Isère River, at the convergence of the Isère and Drac rivers.

In the 4th century BC the Allobroges, an ancient Gallic tribe, named Grenoble ‘Cularo’. The Romans later renamed it Gratianopolis, in honor of the emperor Gratian. Eventually, the name was transformed into Grenoble.

Starting in the 4th century, Grenoble was the seat of a bishopric. It was occupied by the Arabs in the 9th century. It was subsequently taken from the Arabs by the counts of Albon, and remained a part of the kingdom of Provence until the 11th century. From the 11th to the 13th century, it was the capital of the independent country of Dauphiné. It passed to France, together with the rest of Dauphiné, in 1349. During the Wars of Religion, as well as after the Edict of Nantes was revoked, things did not go well in Grenoble. In 1788, the town rebelled against the limitation of the local parliament’s powers by the French crown. In 1815 it became Napoleon I’s stronghold following his return from Elba. During the course of the German occupation, during World War II, Grenoble was the site of considerable French resistance. In 1968, Grenoble hosted the winter Olympic games.

The oldest part of Grenoble is located on the right bank, between the river and the mountains. There are many old ecclesiastical structures in this part of the city. There is the 11th century Church of Saint-Laurent, the partially 11th century Cathedral of Notre Dame, the 11th century Carthusian monastery La Grande Chartreuse and the 13th century Church of Saint-André. The Dauphinois Parliament formerly occupied the 16th century Palais de Justice. The University of Grenoble was founded in 1339 and was reorganized in 1970. The university has become noted for its research into physics.

The major part of the city is spread over the plain on the left bank. There is a museum of village life, known as the House of Culture. Together with the sports stadium, it is an interesting example of French contempory architecture. Grenoble has a particularly fine museum of fine arts. There is also a museum housing both a renowned gallery of modern paintings and a rich collection of manuscripts. It includes most of the manuscripts of the well-known 19th century French writer Stendhal who was born in Grenoble in 1783.

The 19th century Bastille fortification is perched upon a hill overlooking the city. It is reached by cable-car.

The city is a cultural, research and industrial center. It is an important center for France’s telecommunications industry. The nearby hydroelectric power generation, from Alpine rivers of the area, provides the energy base for high-energy nuclear-physics research, the manufacture of electrical equipment and machinery, electrometallurgy, cement, chemicals, leather goods, paper, textiles, turbines, processed food and plastics. The city abounds with scientific research laboratories. It is also a tourist center due its numerous medieval buildings, the nearby winter sports facilities and natural parks

History of Isére

The mountainous département of Isère was formed, in 1790, from the northern part of the old province of Dauphiné. Isère is bordered by the départements of and to the north, to the east, to the south and, and to the west. Its capital is the mountain bound city of, which is situated at the confluence of the Isère and Drac rivers, in south central Isère.

To the south of the département are the peaks of the Massif de Loisans and the Massif du Pelyoux; their peaks reach some 12800 feet. The forests and wastelands of Bas Dauphiné slope into the Rhône Valley. The département has two navigable rivers, the Rhône and the Isère.

To the northeast of Grenoble are small areas of fertile farmland. The southern alpine region has broad, fertile valleys. The area’s mountains are forested as high as 6000 feet, thus facilitating a robust lumber industry. The area’s hydroelectric production has ostered considerable industry around, the Drac River valley and the mountain passes. Isère’s alpine beauty draws tourists all year, thus enabling both winter and summer sports as the basis for a strong tourist industry. The area is also famous for the Chartreuse liqueur that is distilled near Grenoble at the Grande Chartreuse monastery.

The département embraces the historic 16th to 17th century chateau of Vizille. Isère was the homeland to Hector Berlioz who composed, among other works, his Synphonie Fantastique.