Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Regnière-Écluse, located in Picardie maritime (Hauts-de-France), is a 19th-century neogothic architectural complex, including a park, a hunting reserve and a model farm. Acquired around 1030, the estate remained in the same family for almost a millennium, passing from Tyrel and Soissons-Moreuil to Soyecourt from 1424. A fireplace dated 1553 in the library bears witness to its ancient history.

In the 19th century, the Count of Hinnisdal entrusted architect Jean Herbault with the renovation of the castle and park, inspired by the English estates. The park, designed by Louis-Sulpice Varé, extends over 135 hectares, with 138,000 trees planted and a central breakthrough of 2.5 km. A model farm and two game parks, rare for the time, complete the whole.

During the two world wars, the castle was occupied by the English army in 1914-1918, then requisitioned by the Germans in 1939-1945 as a hospital. After the war, it served as a holiday settlement before being restored in 1961 by Count Raymond de Nicolaÿ, descendant of the historical owners. The estate, classified as a historic monument in 2006, was transferred to the Conservatoire du littoral in 2008, while remaining partially inhabited by the family.

The castle, decorated by the Duthoit brothers (Amienese sculptors), houses a private chapel, lounges and a large staircase of 1850, transported by railway. The park, structured around a body of water crossed by the Maye, includes reconstructed ruins evoking the primitive castle. Today, it is managed by an association dedicated to its preservation.

The estate was used as a setting for film productions, such as Le Flux et le Reflux (Les Petits Murtres series by Agatha Christie, 2014) and Murder Party (2022), highlighting its interiors (caves, salons, chapel) and its gardens. These shoots contributed to its contemporary reputation.

The successive protections (1976 for facades, 2005 for model farm, 2006 for the whole estate) cover 815 hectares, including forest massifs and agricultural plots. This ranking underscores its heritage importance, combining millennial history, Gothic architecture and remarkable landscapes.

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