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Origin and history

The castle of Boran-sur-Oise stands on the remains of an older building, probably built in the 16th century or earlier, as suggested by its cellars, one of which has a vault on dogive crosses. This first castle was replaced in the 18th century by a country residence, before being completely modernized in the 1850s to adapt to the tastes of the era. The estate is marked by the history of Marie Madeleine de la Vieuville, Countess of Parabère, who organized sumptuous festivals there between 1716 and 1721 when she was the mistress of Philippe d'Orléans, regent of France.

The main house body, made of cut stone, consists of an elevated ground floor and French attic, flanked by side pavilions and a monumental entrance accessible by a double revolution staircase. In the back, two round towers with pepper roofs recall missing defensive elements. The dovecote, located at a distance, as well as the commons and the entrance gate, complete this set inscribed in the Historic Monuments in 2007. Although the castle remained in the direct progeny of the Countess, its present state mainly reflects the transformations of the nineteenth century, partially erasing the traces of earlier eras.

The archives also mention a medieval priory, Saint-Martin de Boran, destroyed during the French Revolution, as well as a fortress dismantled in the Middle Ages on the right bank of the Oise, in Morancy, a hamlet now integrated into the commune. These elements underline the strategic and seigneurial importance of the site throughout the centuries, between river control and aristocratic residence.

Boran-sur-Oise, crossed by Oise and marked by its hydraulic heritage (moulins, locks, Lys beach), was also a popular resort in the 20th century. The proximity to Paris and the development of river leisure, like the artificial beach created in the 1930s, left a lasting cultural imprint, although the castle itself remains a symbol of the seigneurial and architectural heritage of the region.

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