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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Fresneaux-Montchevreuil, located in the Oise department, was built on the foundations of an older building, probably dating back to the 12th century. He was erected on the hillside of Montchevreuil by Guillaume de Mornay or his son Pierre, who became his owner in 1539 after a donation by Jean Chenu. This castle, passed over generations, was enlarged in the 17th century with the addition of wings and stables, reflecting the growing influence of the Mornay family.

In the 17th century, Henri de Mornay, Marquis de Montchevreuil and governor of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, and his wife Marguerite Boucher d'Orsay, enjoyed great esteem with Louis XIV and the Marquise de Maintenon. Their son, René de Mornay, became Louis XV's ambassador to Portugal before becoming Archbishop of Besançon. These links with the royal court illustrate the political and social importance of the castle at that time.

At the end of the Second Empire, Augustin Philippe de Mornay undertook major restorations, adding wings in return and expanding outbuildings. The castle remained in the family until 1956, when it was sold by Princess Michel de Bourbon-Parme. Abandoned from the 1980s, it fell into ruins, although its outbuildings and 200-hectare park were still maintained. The facades and roofs of the castle have been protected since 1983 as historical monuments.

The archives of the castle, preserved at the National Archives under the Mornay and Soult Fonds (subseries 402 AP), bear witness to its rich past. This castle, symbol of the Mornay heritage, embodies centuries of French history, from the Ancien Régime to the contemporary era.

Future

It is now in ruins but its 200 hectare park is still maintained.

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