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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Viarmes, located in Val-d'Oise, is a classical building built in 1758 on the initiative of Jean-Baptiste Élie Camus de Pontcarré, lord of Viarmes. It replaces an ancient medieval castle, attested by archaeological excavations revealing enclosure walls, towers, and glazed ceramic pavements dating from the 13th century, or even a fortified habitat of the 10th-XI century. The lords of Chambly, owners in the 13th century, had made important improvements there, gradually transforming the site.

The current U-shaped castle is distinguished by its blonde stone facades and Mansart roofs. Its sober but elegant architecture includes a central body with triangular pediment adorned with the sponsor's coat of arms, and wings topped with arced frontons. Inside, two rooms preserve Rocaille-style woodwork, which has been protected under the Historic Monuments since 1926.

Acquired by the commune in 1857, the castle successively housed the town hall and a school, before becoming a cultural place with a local museum. Its park, sold in lots in 1847, has now disappeared. The building, inscribed in the Historic Monuments on November 20, 1926, illustrates the evolution of a medieval seigneurial site in 18th century classical residence.

Archaeological excavations have highlighted significant remains, such as ditches and interior homes, confirming the site's occupation since the early Middle Ages. These discoveries underline the strategic importance of Viarmes, passed from the hands of the lords of Chambly to those of the Camus family of Pontcarré, which long-term mark its architectural heritage.

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