Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Contay, located in the department of the Somme in the Hauts-de-France region, was built in the middle of the eighteenth century for Gilbert Morel de Bécordel, son-in-law of Barthélémy d'Amiens, who had acquired the estate in 1702. This classic chalk and sandstone castle replaces an earlier building destroyed in 1636 during the Spanish invasions. The date of 1753, engraved on the commons, marks its completion.

The U-shaped house body with two wings in return for square, has symmetrical facades decorated with carved frontons. The interior preserves 18th-century woodwork and redecorated pieces under the Second Empire. The park, partially enclosed by a limestone and brick wall, houses a 19th century tank, while outbuildings include an octagonal dovecote and white stone commons.

Protected as historical monuments since 2010, the castle illustrates the sober and elegant architecture of the eighteenth century. Its park and outbuildings, little modified over the centuries, offer a coherent view of the entire estate. The site is also linked to local history, notably through the Morel family, influential in the Amiens region.

The facades and roofs of the castle, as well as its dovecote and its communes, are included in the inventory of historical monuments. The estate, which also includes a farm and stables, reflects the aristocratic lifestyle of the time, combining functionality and classical aesthetics. The precise location of the castle is at 5026 Rue du Château, in the commune of Contay.

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