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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Boury Castle is an emblematic monument located in the commune of Boury-en-Vexin, in the department of l'Oise (Hauts-de-France). Built in the second half of the 17th century, it occupies a strategic location at the borders of French Vexin, Norman Vexin and Picardie. This pleasure castle, whose plans are attributed to Jules Hardouin-Mansart, is distinguished by its facades adorned by sculptor Michel Poissant, as well as by a court of honour framed by an orangery and communes. Its park, designed by André Le Nôtre, and several outbuildings ( stables, dovecote, water fountain) have been protected as historical monuments since 1931.

The history of the estate dates back to the 11th century, when a first fortified castle was erected, of which today there remains a round tower and a dovecote in a nearby farm. Boury's seigneury, passed almost without interruption since this period, marked the local identity. The present castle, transformed into a residence of pleasure, embodies classical French architecture, with a gallery giving access to the ground floor rooms and two side stairs. Its classification in 1931 covers not only the main building and its chapel, but also the stables, orangery, laundry and park, highlighting its heritage importance.

The site, close to the Route départementale 6, is located in the heart of the village of Boury-en-Vexin. Its exact address, 2 Impasse du Tilleul, and its Insee code (60095) confirm its anchoring in the Oise territory. The castle thus illustrates the aristocratic heritage of the Vexin, between Norman influence and Picardy, while at the same time testifying to the evolution of seigneurial residences in prestigious residences under the Old Regime. Historical sources, such as François-Alexandre Aubert de La Chesnaye Des Bois (1774) and Michel Zentz d'Alnois (1971), document his past, while bases such as Mérimée and Monumentum specify its architectural characteristics and protection.

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