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Origin and history

The former Blérancourt Castle, located on Rue Lecat in Blérancourt (Aisne), has its origins in the 17th century. In 1661, Bernard Potier founded an orphanage on the site of an old maladry, in the fief Fourcroy dating back to the 15th century. This institution, the first child foundation recognized by the King, was initially run by the nuns of the Feuillants convent until the French Revolution. The orphanage became well national in 1792 after the abolition of religious congregations and was then administered by a municipal commission.

In the 20th century, after World War II, the building became the property of the Blérancourt Foundation. In 1957, the Association le Moulin Vert made it a centre for children with mental disabilities. The monument, partially protected since 1927 (a monumental gate and street façade), illustrates the evolution of charitable and social uses throughout the centuries. Its inscription in the Historic Monuments underscores its heritage and architectural importance.

Today, the former castle of Blérancourt remains a testimony of French social history, mixing religious heritage, humanitarian commitment and contemporary adaptations. Its location in the department of Aisne, in the Hauts-de-France region, makes it a site marked by political and cultural transformations since the seventeenth century.

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