Château de la Moutte is a château located on the presqu’île of Saint-Tropez. It was purchased in 1860 by Émile Ollivier from the Martin de Roquebrune family and became his property. Ollivier, who was the last prime minister of Napoléon III, settled there with his first wife, Blandine Liszt, the daughter of composer Franz Liszt and writer Marie d’Agoult. The château served as a retreat for Ollivier and as his residence after the war of 1870.

The entrance fronton bears the motto “Certa viriliter sustine patienter.” The property later passed to descendants and was preserved by Ollivier’s granddaughter, Anne Troisier de Diaz. She created the Nuits du château de La Moutte music festival in 1975, which hosted artists including Michel Dalberto, France Clidat, and William Christie for nearly thirty years. Her efforts also led to the creation of the Association des Amis d’Émile Ollivier, later transformed into Institut Émile-Ollivier, which aimed to preserve his memory. In 1998, she bequeathed the château to the Conservatoire du littoral, and the city of Saint-Tropez became associated with its management. The park and palm grove are noted for contributing to the site’s tranquility and romantic heritage value.

Ownership of the Chateau de la Moutte

Le chateau de la Moutte is located on the presqu ile de Saint Tropez. According to the available facts, it was owned by Intro. Emile Ollivier became the owner of Le chateau de la Moutte starting in 1860. These ownership details place the building within the history of private possession on the Saint Tropez peninsula.

Ownership and Historical Use

Chateau de la Moutte was owned by Emile Ollivier, the last prime minister of Napoleon III. He purchased the property in 1860 from the Martin de Roquebrune family and settled there with his first wife, Blandine Liszt, who was the daughter of composer Franz Liszt and writer Marie d'Agoult. The chateau served as a retreat for Ollivier and became his residence after the war of 1870. At the entrance, the fronton bears the motto "Certa viriliter sustine patienter".

Preservation, Memory, and Cultural Life

The property passed to descendants and was preserved by Anne Troisier de Diaz, who played a central role in its later history. In 1975, she created the Nuits du chateau de La Moutte music festival, which succeeded earlier concerts and brought artists such as Michel Dalberto, France Clidat, and William Christie to the site for nearly thirty years. She also founded the Association des Amis d Emile Ollivier to promote the memory of Emile Ollivier, with academic support from Theodore Zeldin, William Smith, and Pierre Guiral. In the late 1990s, the association became the Institut Emile-Ollivier, led by Claude Knepper, Laurent Leprevost, and Claude Vigoureux, with the aim of preserving Ollivier's memory. Under this institute, the chateau opened to the public during Heritage Days. The park and palm grove were described as contributing to the tranquility and romantic heritage value of the property. In 1998, Anne Troisier de Diaz bequeathed Chateau de la Moutte to the Conservatoire du littoral to protect it from inheritance disputes and speculation, and the City of Saint-Tropez later became associated with its management. She also donated the archives of Emile Ollivier to the French National Archives.