Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Château de Châtenay is less distinguished by its neo-classical house, built in 1880 by architect Dainville, than by its 19-hectare romantic park, designed in 1835 by Louis-Sulpice Varé. The latter, known for having designed the Bois de Boulogne, applied the principles of the "Landscape park", a mixture of English influences and classical tradition. The terrain, marked by slopes and reliefs, offers views of the forests of Chantilly and Dalatte, integrating wooded areas and cultivated land.

The park was completed in 1884 by the Bühler brothers, creators of the Golden Head Park in Lyon, who extended the spirit of Varé by unifying the two phases of work. The property, owned by the same bourgeois family over four generations (1791–180), reflects the cultural and social values of that time. In 1987, Gilles Clément added spaces and restored perspectives masked by vegetation.

Acquired as a national property in 1791 by Jean Hérelle, the estate saw its French-style park transformed into a romantic park between 1836 and 1838. In 1866, the extension northward, with the demolition of a wall and the integration of the "Censière", enlarged the park. The Grand House, built from 1877, and the modifications of the Bühler brothers (1881–84) completed this transformation. Today, the site houses a seminar centre.

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