Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Baronville, situated on horseback in the communes of Béville-le-Comte and Oinville-sous-Auneau (Eure-et-Loir), is a neo-Louis XIII building built in the 3rd quarter of the 19th century (1868-1871) by architect Léon de Sanges. It replaces a 17th century castle (1623), demolished to give way to a more modern construction, commissioned by the Marquis Armand de Pomereu d'Aligre. The latter, heir to a long line of local lords, wishes a castle adapted to the tastes of the Second Empire, mixing brick of the Auneau and white stone of Poitiers, with steep roofs and characteristic skylights.

The Baronville estate, mentioned since Gallo-Roman times (baronis villa), was a fortified mansion in the Middle Ages, controlling the valley of the Voise. In the 17th century, it belonged to the family of Montescot, then to the Lattaignant, who developed French-style gardens, canals and statues. In debt, the estate was sold as a national good during the Revolution. It was bought by the family of Aligre and was finally rebuilt in 1868 in a polychrome style, with a landscaped park replacing the old gardens.

The present castle preserves elements of the 17th century commons (1623) and incorporates woodwork recovered from the old building. During the Franco-Prussian war (1870), he was occupied by Bavarian soldiers. In the 20th century, it was home to convalescents during the First World War and was looted by Germans in 1940. Since 1980, it has been open to the public for events and filming, such as Coco before Chanel (2008). In 2020, the field was converted to organic farming.

Among the personalities received were Elton John, King Abdullah bin Abdelaziz Al Saud, and Karl Lagerfeld. The castle, classified as a Historic Monument in 1985 for its facades, atrium and stairs, combines architectural heritage and modernity, with lands now managed in organic farming and PEFC certified wood.

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