Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Louvois found its origins at the beginning of the thirteenth century, erected as seigneury by Gaucher de Châtillon, then passed on to the family of Cramaille. From this medieval epoch, there are today only moat, cellars and a prison, testimonies of primitive defensive architecture. The site, originally modest, became a strategic and symbolic issue for local noble families, before undergoing a radical transformation under the Old Regime.

In the 17th century, the estate was acquired by Michel Le Tellier, Marquis de Barbezieux and Secretary of State for the War of Louis XIV. His son, François Michel Le Tellier de Louvois – a central figure in the court and coordinator of the work of Versailles after Colbert – undertook an ambitious reconstruction. The castle was rebuilt according to the plans of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, while Michel Le Bouteux, a pupil of Le Nôtre, designed gardens of fifty hectares, powered by a complex hydraulic system designed with Vauban and the Swiss Guards. This lavish ensemble, including basins, terraces and a running hunt, reflected the versatility of the Versailles.

In 1776, the estate passed into the hands of Adelaide and Sophie, daughters of Louis XV, who had him raised in Duchy-Payrie under the name of Château des Dames de France. The architect Nicolas Durand made arrangements there, marking a transition to a more intimate style. However, the French Revolution sealed its destiny: seized as national property in 1793, the castle was dismantled, its stones and woodwork sold. Only the entrance gate, the orangery, the ditches, and the basins, remains of ephemeral glory, survived.

In the 19th century, a classical pavilion was built on the ruins, surrounded by a landscaped garden, far from the past grandeur. In 1989, the champagne house Laurent-Perrier acquired the property and partially restored the gardens according to the original plans. Although the castle has been a historical monument since 2015, it does not visit itself, preserving the mystery of its three centuries of history, between royal power, revolutionary destruction and wine renaissance.

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