Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Fillerval, located in Thury-sous-Clermont in the department of Oise, was built in 1784 on the site of an ancient fortified castle. It belonged to the Cassini family, famous for its astronomers, since 1719. The castle was destroyed to give way to a new building surrounded by moats and a pond, incorporating a French garden designed by André Le Nôtre.

In 1845 the castle passed by inheritance to the family of Vuillefroy de Silly, who sold it around 1910. Prior to World War II, he was occupied by the Harper family, including Niki de Saint Phalle, who lived there. The estate, with tennis courts, a golf course and modern comfort for the time, was a popular reception venue.

During World War II, the castle was occupied by a Nazi general. The soldiers destroyed some of the furniture and library, using books as toilet paper. After the war, a fire in the 1950s ravaged the castle, which was then restored. Today, it houses the training centre of the French Institute of Management.

The castle garden, Louis XIV style, has been included in the pre-inventory of remarkable gardens. Several historical personalities are associated, including members of the Cassini and Vuillefroy families of Silly, as well as scientists and artists.

The castle of Fillerval thus illustrates centuries of history, mixing science, politics and art, while suffering the vicissitudes of conflicts and changes of owners.

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