In 1857 d'Osmond's son sold the estate to Count Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck for his mistress Esther or Thérèse Lachmann, 
called La Païva after her marriage in 1851 to the rich Marquis Aranjo de Paiva, a cousin of the Minister of Portugal in Paris.

This rich young Prussian aristocrat, a cousin of Bismarck, had the house restored by the architect Pierre Manguin.

His mistress had it redecorated and renovated the park where she created vistas and planted rare species.

The local peasants were scandalized to see her galloping in the park dressed as a man.

Paul Lacroix said that there were two large paintings at the chateau depicting the chase and the arrival of Louis XIV, in which Madame de Montespan appears.

The Marquis de Paiva committed suicide, and in 1871 his widow married the Count von Donnersmarck, who had returned to Pontchartrain, where she replaced the servants by German staff.
 The Prussian occupation in 1870 left Pontchartrain intact, property of the Count, now Governor of Alsace-Lorraine.

Perhaps suspected of espionage, La Païva left France in 1877 for Neudeck (now Świerklaniec) in Silesia, where she had Lefuel build her the palace where she died in 1884.

The chateau collection was sold at public auction at Drouot on 9 February 1884.

In 1888 the count, unwelcome in France, sold the chateau with its forest of 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres).
In 1857 d'Osmond's son sold the estate to Count Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck for his mistress Esther or Thérèse Lachmann, 
called La Païva after her marriage in 1851 to the rich Marquis Aranjo de Paiva, a cousin of the Minister of Portugal in Paris.
This rich young Prussian aristocrat, a cousin of Bismarck, had the house restored by the architect Pierre Manguin.
His mistress had it redecorated and renovated the park where she created vistas and planted rare species.
The local peasants were scandalized to see her galloping in the park dressed as a man.
Paul Lacroix said that there were two large paintings at the chateau depicting the chase and the arrival of Louis XIV, in which Madame de Montespan appears.
The Marquis de Paiva committed suicide, and in 1871 his widow married the Count von Donnersmarck, who had returned to Pontchartrain, where she replaced the servants by German staff.  The Prussian occupation in 1870 left Pontchartrain intact, property of the Count, now Governor of Alsace-Lorraine.
Perhaps suspected of espionage, La Païva left France in 1877 for Neudeck (now Świerklaniec) in Silesia, where she had Lefuel build her the palace where she died in 1884.
The chateau collection was sold at public auction at Drouot on 9 February 1884.
In 1888 the count, unwelcome in France, sold the chateau with its forest of 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres).
Château de Pontchartrain