Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Combreux, located in Tournan-en-Brie (Seine-et-Marne), finds its origins in the 12th century with a first mention of a building belonging to Gervais de Combreux, of which there is no trace. From the 14th to the 16th century, the fief was held by the family of La Mineray, before being united with that of Armainvilliers. These early buildings have now disappeared, leaving room for the current building.

The construction of the present castle began in 1770 for Louis de Jaucourt (1726-1813), the first gentleman of the prince of Condé. This neo-classical castle, sometimes attributed to architect Claude-Martin Goupy or his nephew Martin II Goupy, embodies the fascist of pre-revolutionary aristocracy. His son, the Marquis de Jaucourt, organizes sumptuous festivals there under the Restoration and maintains a personal guard, marking the climax of his political career.

The estate, with a park crossing a stream feeding a water room and a mill, reflects the 18th century's enthusiasm for picturesque landscapes. The Marquis de Jaucourt, Minister of State and peer of France, is engaged in innovative farming, raising a herd of merinos from the studs of Rambouillet and Malmaison. At his death in 1852, the castle passed into the hands of Jules François Hennecart, MP and Mayor of Presles, who died there in 1888.

In 1896, the castle was given to the Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul, who founded a retirement home for nuns. In the 20th century, the site turned into an orphanage (1915-1940), hosted an Alsatian school fleeing the German occupation (1939-1941), and then housed a small seminary in the 1950s, before becoming a college-lycée until its closure in 1984. From 1998 to 2019, it houses the social residence Frédéric Ozanam, dedicated to the integration of young adults.

The architecture of the castle, complemented by an orangery and a cooler of the First Empire, is part of a typical briard agricultural estate. The farm, partly dating from the 17th century, retains a remarkable structure and a well in perfect condition. Although the mill has disappeared, the park and buildings still bear witness to this rich history, mixing nobility, agriculture and social vocation.

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