Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Laversine Castle, located in Saint-Maximin, Oise, was built in 1874 by architect Alfred-Philibert Aldrophe for Baron Gustave de Rothschild. Built in local stone, its style is freely inspired by François Mansart, and it is decorated with marble sculptures by Georges Gardet. The estate, surrounded by Rothschild quarries, dominates the Oise Valley and serves as a residence for the family, while hosting worldly receptions.

During the First World War, the castle was transformed into a place of convalescence for wounded soldiers. Between the two wars, it became an area dedicated to hunting, frequented by family members. During World War II, he was requisitioned by the Nazis as headquarters for the construction of V1s in nearby quarries, before sheltering American troops in 1944-1945.

After the war, the castle, damaged and abandoned, was transferred to a foundation in 1949 to receive and train orphans of the Shoah. It successively houses a professional college, then the professional high school Donation-de-Rothschild, now run by the Hauts-de-France region. Between 1951 and 1993, Shatta and Bouli Simon run a children's home, combining education and vocational training.

The castle also served as a framework for artists' exhibitions, such as Francis Harburger (1954) or Jacques Yankel (1972), reflecting his link with Jewish culture and history in France. Its architecture and its past bear witness to the upheavals of the twentieth century and the philanthropic commitment of Rothschild.

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