Middes Castle

To escape two paternity suits, the architect Johann Paulus Nader abruptly left the Bernese territory on December 3, 1746, leaving behind debts, women, and children. This citizen of Eiderstatt in Lower Hungary had left Vienna in 1722 to move to Bern, where the prominent Bernese architect Albrecht Sturler employed him. He entrusted him with the supervision of various construction sites before he received several private commissions, notably in Burgdorf. Since 1743, he had been engaged in the redesign of Bremgarten Castle. In Fribourg, the fugitive was described as an "architect in terms of knowledge and a stonemason in terms of profession" and immediately found work. On March 11, 1748, the former treasurer and bailiff of Bulle, Nicolas Griset de Forel, commissioned him to build his country estate on the family's property in Middes. Converted back to Catholicism, Nader became the official architect of Hauterive Abbey from 1751 to 1769. The Abbot of Lenzburg likely took the opportunity to have him draw the plans for the family estate Vogeishaus near Bösingen. This castle, along with that of Middes, is considered one of the most beautiful private buildings of that time. Nader was notably commissioned by their Excellencies of Fribourg to build the shooting range on the Grand-Places. This talented architect participated in the modernization of the bailiff's castles while receiving numerous private commissions. He died in 1771 from injuries sustained in a fall in the stairwell of the Cistercian convent in Mageren Au, where he was commissioned for a renovation.

The castle remained in the possession of the Griset de Forel family until the mid-19th century. In 1830, the canonized Madeleine-Sophie Barrat, founder of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, found refuge there with her novices before settling in Montet Castle. Between 1860 and 1927, this remarkable building dominating the Broye Valley changed hands six times (Count of Boursetty inhabited the castle in 1885 and owned half of it through purchase, which was resold in 1914 to Mr. Richard von Samper. The von Boccard family installed electricity in the castle and lived there until 1903. The family of Jean-Marie Musy, former Swiss President, became owners of Middes Castle during the years 1930-1940), finally being acquired by the de Montenach family. Despite these many changes and its use by religious congregations, the house was never subjected to significant alterations and has therefore retained its original room distribution and furnishings. It still has no central heating. A large axially arranged avenue connects it to the village. The avenue leads into a courtyard surrounded by service buildings. The entire complex between the courtyard and garden, which connects the castle and the surrounding landscape into a scenic unit, probably corresponds to Bernese models. The main facade has three times three axes, with a slightly projecting risalit, making a total of nine axes, while the village-side facade has only seven. In the middle of the main facade is a large balcony from which the Griset de Forel could enjoy the view of the garden and, beyond the garden wall, an unlimited landscape extending to the Jura line.