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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Caulaincourt Castle, located in the department of Aisne, is an emblematic monument marked by two key periods: the second half of the 19th century and the second quarter of the 20th century. The former castle, destroyed in March 1917 during the withdrawal of German troops along the Hindenburg Line, gave way to an ambitious reconstruction. This first building, whose exact aspect remains poorly known, was probably linked to the local aristocratic heritage, notably through the Caulaincourt family, one of which was Napoleon I's ambassador to Russia.

Between 1930 and 1933, the Countess of Moustier, descendant of the Marquis of Caulaincourt, entrusted to the Russian architect André Beloborodoff the reconstruction of the castle in a neo-classical style. Inspired by the palaces of St Petersburg and the principles of Palladio, the new castle is distinguished by its colourful covering and its harmony with the surrounding park, organized around a large pond and wood. The furniture, combining Empire pieces inherited from the Russian home of the Marquis and Art Deco creations designed by Beloborodoff, reflects this dual historical and artistic influence.

The estate also includes a circular brick mausoleum, built around 1876 in the cemetery of Caulaincourt, dedicated to Adrienne de Caulaincourt. This funerary monument, with a zinc dome, bears witness to the family's local anchor. The castle, its ordered park (with portals and vases), as well as the fence wall and the old 18th century gate, were protected as historical monuments: inscription of the mausoleum in 1992, then classification of the rest in 1998. Today, the castle belongs to the Countess Louis-Amédée de Moustier, perpetuating his family heritage.

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