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Origin and history

The fortified farm of Les Époisses, located in Bombon in Seine-et-Marne, is a strong house whose origins date back to the thirteenth century. Its name, derived from the old French spess (tuffu wood), evokes a formerly woody and dense environment, where its tower and its niches overlooked thick stuffs. This strategic site, first cited in 1285 in a charter for the sharing of Melun's Viscounty, belonged to Jean, who received the cens and rents.

Over the centuries, the fief of the Spouses changed hands several times. Among his lords were Guy de Gyresne (mentioned in 1477), Pierre de Mesgrigny (1635-1650), adviser to the King and chief accountant, and his descendant Jacques de Mesgrigny (cited in 1691). In the 19th century, the estate belonged to the Countess of Béthisy (1830), before gaining national fame in 1878 at the Universal Exhibition. A demonstration of the first mechanical harvester attracted nearly 20,000 visitors, including French and foreign dignitaries.

Ranked a historic monument in 1981, the stronghold of Les Époisses experienced a marked cultural period between 1970 and 1987. The site hosted concerts, including that of cellist Mstislav Rostropovich in 1975, before being restored between 1981 and 1987. Today, the area, closed to the public, is dedicated to organizing business seminars, ending its role as a place of visit or cultural event.

The protected elements include the farm itself, its cobbled courtyard, moats and barn, which are witnesses to a defensive and agricultural architecture characteristic of the fortified houses of Île-de-France. The site, although not accessible, remains a remarkable example of the medieval and modern heritage of the region.

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