Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Sannois, located in Annet-sur-Marne in Seine-et-Marne, is a former seigneurial mansion rebuilt in the 19th century. Although partially reworked, it could retain elements of its original structure, as suggested by the presence of a porch dovecote serving as entry to the commons. The estate also includes a landscaped park, called Sannois Park, which completes its residential and aesthetic character.

The castle was initially linked to the Geffrard de la Motte family, notably to Jean-François Geffrard de la Motte, Count of Sanois and last Lord of Pantin and Sanois. His family history is marked by successive matrimonial alliances: after the Geffrard de la Motte, the estate passed to Courcy via the marriage of Philiberte Geffrard with Mathieu de Courcy, then to Colombel (including Louis Alfred, district councillor), before being passed on to the families of Aleyrac and Rolland de Chambaudoin d'Erceville. These transmissions reflect the importance of the fief in the region.

A notable episode concerns Jean-François Geffrard de la Motte, whose tumultuous life caused scandal. After his separation from Anne Louise Rurault (daughter of Philibert Rurault, adviser to the Paris Parliament), he fled to Lausanne before being arrested and interned at Charenton asylum at the request of his wife. This personal drama contrasts with the prestige associated with the estate, underlined by a commemorative plaque dedicated to Philibert Rurault in the church Saint-Germain of Annet-sur-Marne.

The park and existing buildings, though transformed, perpetuate the memory of this historic fief. The dovecoier porch, a notable architectural element, recalls the medieval seigneurial organization, while the French-style park evokes the aristocratic tastes of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The castle thus illustrates the evolution of noble residences in Île-de-France, between feudal heritage and modern adaptations.

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