In 1878 Etienne Bouvet built a chateau for himself and his family in Saint-Hilaire Saint-Florent. Its construction was entrusted to the local architect Ernest Piette, a former student of Joly-Leterme, architect of the historic monuments of Saumur. Not far away, in the village, Etienne Bouvet also built housing for his employees on his land. In 1900 at least ninety employees were housed there.

A few years later, he rearranged some land along the banks of the Thouet, created a port, installed large stables covered by a glass roof, built his own electricity power station to light the 8 kilometers of cellars, and built a dispatch hall.
He also built a small theatre for his employees to offer them access and exposure to the arts.