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Origin and history

The château de Querrieu, situated on horseback in the communes of Querrieu and Pont-Noyelles (Somme), has its origins in the Middle Ages. A first medieval castle, visited by Francis I in 1517 and Henry IV in 1595, was destroyed in 1636 by the Spanish armies during the siege of Corbie. Today only the bases of two semicircular towers and a cellar remain, remains of this period.

In the 17th century, the seigneury of Querrieu passed to the family of Gaudechart by the marriage of Robert Gaudechart with Gabrielle de Saveuse in 1596. Their descendant, François de Gaudechart, a camp marshal, had the castle rebuilt in brick and stone. In 1652 the seigneury was elevated to the rank of marquisat. After the death of her husband in 1735, Anne-Françoise Perrin, marquise douirière, undertook major transformations, followed in the 18th century by Paul-Maximilien de Gaudechart, who altered the bays, filled the ditches and built the park.

The 19th century marked a new phase of transformation under the impulse of Princess Clementine-Charlotte de Rohan, widow of Louis François de Gaudechart. Between 1830 and 1840, the castle was raised from one floor with lateral wings, and its park was enlarged and redesigned in English. A monumental grid was added, opening onto the village. These adjustments, which are still visible today, gave the domain its present aspect.

During the First World War, the castle played a strategic role as headquarters (QG) of the 4th British Army commanded by General Rawlinson. This is where the Somme offensive was prepared in 1916. The site welcomed major figures such as King George V, Marshal Foch, and Lord Balfour. German cannons captured were stored there before being transferred to the Imperial War Museum in London. This military past made it a memorial to the Great War.

After 1918, the castle remained in the family of Alcantara de Querrieu, descendant of the Gaudechart. In 1927, Juan d'Alcantara obtained permission to add Querrieu to his name. The estate, still inhabited by the family, was partially listed as historical monuments in 1998. Its architecture combines a 17th-century central body, 19th-century wings, and a century-old landscape park, reflecting its evolution throughout the centuries.

The castle is distinguished by its 19th century interior decorations, including panelling, marquetry parquet floors, and an honour staircase. The park, enlarged in the 19th century, includes a canal, a circular basin, and alleys lined with centuries-old trees. The communes, including stables and dovecote, complete this architectural ensemble, partially restored in the 1980s.

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