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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château d'Orrouy, located in the department of Oise in the Hauts-de-France region, has its origins in the 15th century. The building underwent major renovations in the 17th and 19th centuries, notably under the influence of the neo-Gothic style. The corbelled turrets, facades and drills have been modified, while a wing added in the 17th century has also been transformed. Today, only the cellars retain authentic medieval elements.

In the 18th century, the castle belonged to the Foucault family, then to Joseph-Abraham Deshayes de Cambronne, administrator of the property of Louis-Philippe d'Orléans. He then passed to his son Arnouph Deshayes de Cambronne, aide de camp de Charles X, then to his niece Berthe de Villiers, before being handed over by covenant to the family Desfriches Doria. Count Armand Doria, a member of the Institut de France, and his grandson Arnauld Doria, an art historian, were the owners.

The castle was also the command post of the Champlieu tank camp during the First World War, under the direction of Jean Estienne, pioneer of the tanks. In the 19th century, it became a meeting place for artists like Corot, Manet, Cals and Gustave Colin, thanks to its owner, Count Doria, a great collector and friend of the Impressionists.

The facades, roofs, central stairway and enclosure wall were listed as historical monuments in 1989. In 2024, extended protection included the entire castle, its pleasant garden, a turret, an orangery, a greenhouse, as well as landscape elements such as rock and artificial caves.

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