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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The manor house of Plessis-aux-Bois, located in Vauciennes in the department of Oise, is a building built in the 15th and 16th centuries. It is located in an enclave of the forest of Retz, near Villers-Cotterêts. This monument illustrates the seigneurial architecture of the era, with characteristic elements such as a scauguette turret and a facade decorated with pilasters.

Originally, the mansion belonged to the family of Noüe, who made it his residence. At the end of the 18th century, it became the property of the royal abbey of Notre-Dame de Longpont, before being sold as a national property during the French Revolution. The architectural complex comprises two wings in return of square, connected by a turret, as well as a house extended by a monumental tower in brick and stone. The oriental wing, carefully worked, could have housed stables and a hay attic.

The manor house underwent major changes in the 19th and 20th centuries, partially altering its original appearance. Despite these changes, it retains remarkable elements such as the entrance pavilion, the fence walls and a dovecote. Since November 8, 1999, the mansion has been listed as a historic monument, protecting its architectural heritage and history.

Today, the Plessis-aux-Bois mansion remains a testimony of local history, linked both to medieval aristocracy and to the upheavals of the Revolution. Its forest-line location and architectural features make it an emblematic site of the Oise heritage.

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