In the seventeenth century, Jean-Louis de Courbon was the lord of the estate. In the second part of the century, he created the superb French gardens which are confined to the west by the little river Bruant and are continued along the esplanade between the two Louis XIII pavilions.

During the XVIIIth century the gardens fell, little by little into disuse because the Courbon lived near Paris in order to be closer to the Royal court.

By the end of the XIXth century, the abandoned château was, for Julien Viaud, the future Pierre Loti, a place for walking, dreaming and inspiration(cf. “Prime jeunesse”). In memory of his youth, and faced with the destruction of his beloved forest, he lanced a vibrant appeal (Le Figaro, 21 October 1908)for someone to stop the destruction of the forest and buy the château.

In 1920, Paul Chénereau (1869-1967), born in the area, acquires La Roche Courbon. From 1928 to 1939 he creates the marvellous gardens one can see today.