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Origin and history

The Château de Courcelles is a bourgeois residence built in the 2nd quarter of the 19th century (1831) by the Parisian architect Antoine-Martin Garnaud, winner of the Prix de Rome in 1817. Sponsored by Mr. Jobert-Paquot, this neoclassical "small palace" breaks with the traditional codes of country houses. Its rectangular plane, its two levels rhythmized by columns and pilasters, and its central pediment make it a remarkable example of style. The facades, organized in three groups of three holes, reflect a rigorous symmetry, while the interior, like the living room on the ground floor, reproduces the exterior motifs with ionic pilasters.

Damaged during the First World War (drained roof, wrecked interior), the castle was restored in 1920 in accordance with its original state. The two-room Louis XV woodwork, from a house destroyed in Charleville, is integrated. The building, built of coated rubble, is surrounded by a landscaped park. In 1999, its facades, roofs and the central living room were inscribed in the Historical Monuments, preserving this testimony of 19th century bourgeois architecture.

Located in the suburbs of Reims, in the Great East, the castle illustrates the Parisian influence in the regional residences of the time. Its architect, Garnaud, applies the neoclassical principles learned during his stay in Rome, combining geometric rigor and decorative elegance. Today, the site remains a significant example of the Champagne heritage, between local history and national architectural heritage.

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