Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Bellesbat, also known as Château de Belesbat, is a 16th century building located in the commune of Courdimanche-sur-Essonne, Essonne. It is representative of the aristocratic residential architecture of the French Renaissance, with a doorway classified as a historical monument since 1948. This monument illustrates the influence of local noble families and their role in the royal or princely administration.

In 1573, the castle belonged to Robert Hurault, seigneur of Belesbat and president of the council of the Duchess of Savoie, as well as to his wife Madeleine de L'Hospital, daughter of the chancellor of France Michel de L'Hospital. Their son, Pierre Hurault de L'Hospital, inherited it in 1617. The latter, counselor of the king and master of petitions, embodies the ascension of the legal elites during the reigns of Henry IV and Louis XIII.

In the 18th century, the castle changed hands several times. In 1725, Jean-Baptiste Berthelot de Duchy, uncle of Madame de Prie, owned it but rented it to the Marquis de Livry. In 1725 Voltaire organized a gruesome festival in which Voltaire, then in the midst of a literary ascent, was among the guests of honour. The event marks the cultural history of the estate, combining the castle with the worldly and intellectual life of the Enlightenment.

In 1740, the property passed to Le Pescheux, seigneurs de Guigneville, marking a new phase in its history. The porterie, the only element protected by historical monuments since 1948, today bears witness to this prestigious past. Sources also mention an approximate location near Vayres-sur-Essonne, highlighting the geographical uncertainties associated with its history.

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