Construction begins 1665 (≈ 1665)
Launch of work by François Mansart.
1666
Death of Mansart and Marquis
Death of Mansart and Marquis 1666 (≈ 1666)
Jules Hardouin-Mansart takes over the construction site.
11 juillet 1942
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 11 juillet 1942 (≈ 1942)
First official protection of the castle and park.
14 mars 1944
Partial classification
Partial classification 14 mars 1944 (≈ 1944)
Avenue, courtyard, commons and orchard listed.
10 décembre 2001
Avenue classification
Avenue classification 10 décembre 2001 (≈ 2001)
Two additional protected plots.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Park: inscription by decree of 11 July 1942 - The avenue; the court of honor, the commons, the castle and the orchard; the water mirror; the green carpet and side aisles to the driveway of the Cabin; the orchard (cad. 1933 B sheet 1, 375 ; sheet 2, 424 to 429) : classification by order of 14 March 1944 The plots B 374 and B 621 constitutives of the avenue du château : classification by order of 10 December 2001
Key figures
François Mansart - Architect
Designed the initial plans in 1665.
André de Guiry - Marquis and sponsor
Owner at the origin of the construction.
Jules Hardouin-Mansart - Successor architect
Finish the castle after 1666.
Origin and history
The castle of Guiry, located in the Val-d'Oise in Guiry-en-Vexin, is built from 1665 for the Marquis André de Guiry, according to the plans of François Mansart. He and the sponsor died in 1666, but the work was completed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the nephew of François. The castle reuses the foundations of a 16th century building destroyed by fire. Rare peculiarity: the estate has belonged to the same family for thirteen centuries, as evidenced by the oldest written archives.
Classic style, the castle is distinguished by its architectural harmony and geometric rigor. The facade on courtyard, organized in seven spans, presents a pediment decorated in the 19th century with family weapons (silver to three quaint leaves of sand). Two allegorical statues, Justice and Force, frame the central windows. The facade on garden, without pediment, retains an identical symmetry. The skylights, chimneys and imposts are treated with meticulous care, reflecting Mansart's requirement.
The castle was listed as a historical monument in 1942 (with its park), and in 1944 it was classified for a large part of the estate, including the avenue, the court of honour, the communes and the orchard. Two plots of the avenue are in turn classified in 2001, leaving the park under simple registration. Access is via a long treed avenue, probably traced from the seventeenth century, as confirmed by the plans of the eighteenth century.
The building illustrates the legacy of Mansart, a family of major architects of French classicism. Its state of conservation and its uninterrupted transmission make it an exceptional witness to local history and the architectural art of the Great Century. The successive protections underline its heritage value, both for its built and for its structured gardens (d'eau mirror, green carpet, alleyways).
Announcements
Please log in to post a review