The history

As early as the 12th century,

As early as the 12th century, a feudal castle surrounded by moats and walls is mentioned. Left in a bad state at the end of the 17th century, the lordly house was razed to the ground to make way, a few years later, for what is considered today as one of the most beautiful architectural ensembles of the department.

At the end of 1720, a rich family from Troyes started the construction of the new castle. Jacques d'Aubeterre, Count of Jully, commissioned the plans from one of the most brilliant architects of his time: Germain Boffrand. A student of Jules Hardouin Mansart, he designed, among other things, the Château de Lunéville for the Duke of Lorraine and the Hôtel de Soubise in Paris, now the Archives Nationales.

Boffrand, the royal architect, then designed a classical masterpiece with mythological references, staged and ordered by a 3 kilometer long perspective.

C’est le jeune architecte Philippe de La Force qui assurera le suivi du chantier et fera venir les pierres, à dos de mulet, de Tonnerre (45 kilomètres) et les ardoises par bateau de Paris. Ce chantier titanesque ruina son propriétaire qui mourût le 9 octobre 1726 dans sa demeure inachevée car désertée quelques mois plus tôt par les compagnons couvreurs.

From the 18th to the 19th century

During the second half of the 18th century, the castle was sold by the Aubeterre heirs to François Rémond, Marquis de Montmort, who completed the castle's fittings and enjoyed a grand lifestyle there until the Revolution. The family was exiled to England during the Terror and the estate was seized as national property.

During the Second Empire, the castle and the lands passed into the hands of the Minister of Police of Napoleon III, Charles-Emile de Maupas (opposite). He was the organizer of the police and military forces during the coup of December 2, 1851. As Prefect of Police of Paris, Maupas was one of the three main actors of this historical event which put Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, first president of the Republic, on the imperial throne. He will conduct multiple investigations on high officials as well as members of parliament, surrounding himself with many spies, including the famous Vidocq, also called "Agent 31".

After Maupas' death in 1888, the castle passed to his daughter Marguerite, who died in 1936. The Baudreuil de Fontenay and Ponton d'Amécourt families then inherited the estate. Abandoned shortly before the Second World War, the buildings fell into ruin and the interior decorations were sold.