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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Champlatreux was built between 1751 and 1757 by architect Jean-Michel Chevotet for Mathieu-François Molé, president of the Paris Parliament. The latter used the fortune of his wife, Bonne-Félicité Bernard, to erect this rocky palace on the foundations of a modest Louis XIII residence, demolished in 1750. The project included local materials (gypse, stone from nearby quarries) and recycled elements, such as stones from the nearby castle of Chauvigny. The cost, controlled at £513,507, allowed to create a sumptuous reception place, with 23 rooms with toiletries and maids rooms.

The French-style gardens, designed by Chevotet in the years 1735-1740, were replaced in 1823 by an English landscape park designed by the Thouin brothers. The castle, looted during the Revolution, was restored in the 19th century by Mathieu Louis Molé and then passed on to his granddaughter Clotilde de Noailles. Since then, the estate belongs to the family of Noailles, whose poet Anna de Noailles stayed there regularly. Ranked Historic Monument in 1989, it partially opens to the public in summer and during Heritage Days.

The architecture of the castle, inspired by the rock style, is distinguished by its symmetrical facades adorned with mascarons, carved frontons (today partially disappeared), and a dome roof. The central polygonal pavilion, on the garden side, is preceded by a perron and surmounted by a decorative shade. Inside, the living rooms (such as the Blue Salon with rocky woodwork) and the library keep original decorations. The stables, orangery (destroyed in the 19th century), and dry moat complete this preserved set.

The castle served as a setting for more than 20 films, including Boule de Suif (1945) and Jeanne du Barry (2022), as well as recent music videos. Its architectural influence can be found in later buildings such as the castle of Artigny (Indre-et-Loire) or the castle of Saint-Thaurin (Val-d的Oise). Today, the park and some rooms are visited, offering a rare testimony of the aristocratic art of living in the Enlightenment.

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