Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Monsterlant, located in the Oise, was mentioned in the parish registers in 1694 as property of Claude César de Combes, local lord. The present building, built of bricks and stones at the beginning of the eighteenth century, consists of a central body flanked by two wings, with a perron decorated with terracotta lions. When Combes died in 1707, the estate remained in his family until 1755, when he was sold to Antoine Millon, squire and supplier of the royal court.

In 1755 Antoine Millon, squire and lord of Monsterlant, acquired Madame de Combes de Lys' castle. He died there in 1777, followed by his son Antoine Nicolas in 1843, then mayor of the village. The estate then passes into the hands of the Millon family, including Nicolas Charles, great-grandfather of the writer Henry Millon de Montherlant. In 1843, the property was divided: the castle was ceded to Jousselin, the farm to the administrator Lebesque, and land to Daudin. An imperial decree of 1864 authorized the Million to add Montherlant to their name.

The castle, listed as a historical monument in 2003, preserves 18th century lambris and a French park. His surroundings served as a setting in 1965 for the TV film Marie Curie, illustrating his role in local cultural heritage. The site, still private, bears witness to the aristocratic and winemaking history of the region, linked to the royal court under the Old Regime.

Architecturally, the castle combines bricks and ground stones, typical of the seigneurial houses of the Hauts-de-France in the 18th century. Its U-shaped plan, with wings in return, reflects the cannons of the time. Lion sculptures and interior panelling highlight its noble residence status, while the park and gardens complement this classic ensemble.

The Millon family, linked to the castle for almost a century, marked its history with alliances and successive transmissions. The addition of the name of Montherlant in 1864 enshrines this lasting bond. Today, the monument also protects the memory of Claude César de Combes, first certified seigneur, and of Antoine Millon, figure of the nobility of service under Louis XV.

External links