Construction of the castle 1772-1778 (≈ 1775)
Edited by Victor Louis for Moreau.
1778
Installation of the lightning rod
Installation of the lightning rod 1778 (≈ 1778)
Franklin's first lightning rod in France.
7 septembre 1978
First entry MH
First entry MH 7 septembre 1978 (≈ 1978)
Façades, roofs, staircase and lounge protected.
31 octobre 1995
Second entry MH
Second entry MH 31 octobre 1995 (≈ 1995)
Castle and park registered.
28 juillet 2020
Start of restorations
Start of restorations 28 juillet 2020 (≈ 2020)
Conversion into housing.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Façades and roofs of the castle as well as the interior staircase and the living room with its decor (cad. C 284) : inscription by decree of 7 September 1978 . Castle and park (C 234, 238): inscription by order of 31 October 1995
Key figures
François-Thomas Moreau de la Rochette - Sponsor
Inspector General of Royal Nurseries.
Victor Louis - Architect
Manufacturer of the castle between 1772-1778.
Benjamin Franklin - Scientific
Install the first lightning rod.
Origin and history
Château de La Rochette, located in the eponymous commune of Seine-et-Marne, is a residence built between 1772 and 1778. Sponsored by François-Thomas Moreau de la Rochette, Inspector General of Royal Nurseries, it was designed by architect Victor Louis. This castle is particularly famous for having hosted the first lightning rod installed by Benjamin Franklin, thus marking a major scientific advance at the time.
The monument is listed as historical monuments in two phases: the facades, roofs, the interior staircase and the living room with its decor are protected in 1978, while the castle and its park are protected in 1995. Located on the banks of the Seine, it dominates the valley and is close to the Royal Avenue and the castle's dead end. Since 2020, restoration works have been aimed at transforming the building into housing.
La Rochette Castle illustrates 18th century architecture and the role of aristocratic residences in technical innovation. Its park and location make it a significant part of the heritage of the Île-de-France, linked to the history of science and urban planning of the time. The region, marked by the presence of the royal court in Versailles, saw the development of many secondary residences for the Parisian elite.
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