Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de La Celle-les-Bordes, located near Rambouillet in the Yvelines, is a Louis XIII-style building built around 1610 for Claude de Harville, State Counsellor and Vice Admiral of France under Henri IV. This monument, erected on ancient vaulted cellars, uses local materials such as stoneware and brick, with roofs covered with flat tiles and slate. Its architecture, marked by stone links and smooth crepis, reflects the influence of the early seventeenth century, comparable to other castles in the region such as Rosny-sur-Seine.

Acquired in 1870 by the Duke of Uzès, the castle became the heart of Rallye-Bonnelles, a renowned hunting crew. The Duchess of Uzès (1847–1933), emblematic figure, directs the cynegetic activities from 1878 to his death, transforming the kennel into a space dedicated to a pack of sixty tricolored dogs. The interiors are enriched with 2,400 deer trophies, making this collection the first in France. The estate then moved to its grandson, the Duke of Brissac, before being sold in 2004 to Thierry Gobet, current owner.

The history of the castle dates back to 1363, when Pierre de Harville acquired the fief under the reign of John the Good. The land remained in the Harville family for three centuries, until Claude Antoine de Harville had the vast kennel built in 1717. After the extinction of the male lineage, the estate changed hands several times, notably through marriages and auctions, before being consolidated by the Duke of Uzes in the 19th century. The stables, restored in 1936, and the commons, modified in the 19th century, complete the architectural ensemble.

Partially classified as Historic Monuments in 1966 for its facades and roofs, the castle now combines historical heritage and cultural dynamism. Thierry Gobet presents works of art from all periods and organizes visits, thus perpetuating the vocation of welcoming and prestige of the place. The site, located at 9 rue de l'Eglise in La Celle-les-Bordes, remains a testimony of the art of aristocratic living and of the venatory passion in Île-de-France.

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