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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Bourguignon-sous-Montbavin Castle, located in the department of Aisne, is a former pleasure house built between 1828 and 1835 in a neo-palladian style. It was erected at the initiative of Jeanne-Rose Boilletot, a member of the remise and laonnaise bourgeoisie, on the foundations of a 17th century vintage. The area, initially larger, was partially reduced by the construction of a road in the 19th century. The commons, dated 1818, and the 18th century gate, remains of the old harvest, still remain today.

The castle, of quadrangular limestone plan, has symmetrical facades with five spans and four levels, inspired by Italian villas. Its interiors, although partially stripped, retain painted panelling and a wrought iron staircase. The park, to the west, houses remarkable species such as a Virginia tulip tree and a purple beech, while a neo-Roman chapel, built in 1922, honours the memory of the former owners.

Ranked a historic monument in 2004, the castle illustrates the architecture of secondary residences of the Lao bourgeoisie in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its park, 18th century gate, commons and chapel are part of the protected elements. The site reflects the evolution of aristocratic and bourgeois tastes, mixing wine heritage and influence of Italian villas, in a preserved rural setting.

The property passed into the hands of several bourgeois families, including the Ponssin, the Barive and the Hennezel d'Ormois, the latter being a local scholar and mayor of Bourguignon. The cellars, on two levels, bear witness to the remains of the original harvest, while the sundial, restored in 1923, and the stained glass of the chapel add to its heritage character.

Today, the castle and its outbuildings, including the communes transformed into rural cottages, offer a preserved example of the bourgeois art of living of the nineteenth century. Its inclusion in the inventory of historical monuments underlines its architectural and landscape importance, as well as its role in the local history of the Hauts-de-France region.

The site, although of modest dimensions, is distinguished by its harmonious architecture and wooded park, reflecting the romantic aspirations of its owners. The chapel, dedicated to St.Madeleine, and the commemorative plaques recall the great families that marked its history, while emphasizing its anchoring in the Aisnois rural heritage.

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