Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Rosny-sur-Seine Castle, also known as Sully Castle, was built at the end of the 16th century by Maximilian of Bethune, Duke of Sully and Minister of Henry IV. Built of brick and stone, it adopts a U-shaped plan with corner pavilions and a courtyard of honor closed by a low wall. The facades, adorned with sculpted chains and skylights, reflect the Louis XIII style. Sully built terraced gardens and gardens, as well as a long driveway lined with elms, admired by Henry IV during his visit in 1603.

In 1718, the castle was sold to the Olivier de Senozan family, which expanded the estate and redesigned the gardens. The Bains pavilion, transformed into a chapel, is added to the park. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Duchess of Berry acquired Rosny and undertook important works: it had the wings left unfinished rebuilt, added a central forebody, and decorated the interiors in a sober but elegant Empire style. The park is redesigned with an artificial river, greenhouses and exotic animals.

The castle has successive periods of decline and restoration. In 1840, Count Le Marois saved the building from destruction by demolishing the unstable wings built by the Duchess of Berry. The Lebaudy family, owner from 1869 to 1955, restored the castle and partially restored its historic furniture. In the 20th century, after years of abandonment and a fire in 1997, Bernard Anthonioz undertook a major restoration between 1998 and 2016, giving the monument its past glory.

Ranked a historic monument in 1941, the castle of Rosny-sur-Seine embodies centuries of French history, from the wars of Religion to the Restoration. Its successive owners, from the Duke of Sully to the Duchess of Berry, marked its architecture and gardens. Today, there remains an exceptional testimony of stylistic evolutions and aristocratic lifestyles, despite the vicissitudes of its recent history.

The estate also includes outbuildings such as the Bains pavilion, an orangery, and the Saint-Charles hospice, built by the Duchess of Berry to house the heart of her murdered husband. The gardens, partially restored, preserve traces of the 17th, 18th and 19th century developments. The castle also served as a setting for several films, strengthening its anchor in popular culture.

External links