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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Alincourt found its origins in the Middle Ages, with a primitive mansion acquired in 1488 by Pierre Le Gendre, treasurer of France under Louis XII and François I. The latter, from an influential family of royal financiers, undertook important reconstruction work at the beginning of the sixteenth century, transforming the mansion into a castle of brick and stone style, characteristic of the Renaissance. The successive purchases of fiefs in the vicinity and architectural changes reflect its ambition and wealth, accumulated thanks to its functions as treasurer of wars and general aid.

Upon the death of Pierre Le Gendre in 1525, the estate moved to his nephew Nicolas II de Neufville, whose family, the Neufville-Villeroy, added a new wing in the 17th century. This line, close to the royal power, marked the castle of its imprint, notably with the construction of a chapel dedicated to Saint Eutrope in 1576 and a wall of fortified enclosure. The transformations also include defensive elements such as corbelled turrets and a dovecote, symbols of prestige rather than military necessity.

In the 18th century, the castle changed hands several times, passing among others to the Count of Senozan (1733-1764), then to families such as Vallière, Bobierre or Bérenger, whose heirs founded the religious order of the "Bérengères". Ranked a historic monument in 1944 for its architectural complex (castle, commons, fortifications, dovecote and park), Alincourt underwent major restorations in the 20th century, notably under the impetus of the Vicomtesse Katherine d'Herbais de Thun in the 1970s. Since 2009, after a court sale, the castle has been closed to the public.

The architecture of the castle blends medieval elements (melloons, cut stones) and Renaissance additions (brick, stone daziers), with remarkable details like an octagonal staircase tower surmounted by mâchicoulis. The chapel, sober but elegant, preserves the remains of the tombs of the Neufville-Villeroy, while the park, once enclosed by a 100-hectare enclosure, now retains only three sides. The inventory after the death of Pierre Le Gendre, discovered on site, offers a valuable testimony of the life and possessions of this influential financier.

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