Initial construction 1653–1665 (≈ 1659)
Edification for Alexander de Créquy, exiled.
1702
Death of Alexander of Créquy
Death of Alexander of Créquy 1702 (≈ 1702)
Heritage transmitted to Gabriel René de Mailloc.
1754
Purchased by Anne-François d-Harcourt
Purchased by Anne-François d-Harcourt 1754 (≈ 1754)
Start of major renovations.
1795
Revolutionary Pillage
Revolutionary Pillage 1795 (≈ 1795)
Castle sequestered and damaged.
1903–1934
Restoration by the Harcourts
Restoration by the Harcourts 1903–1934 (≈ 1919)
Partial work before resale.
1992–présent
Restoration by Jacques Garcia
Restoration by Jacques Garcia 1992–présent (≈ 1992)
Recreation gardens and interiors 18th century.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Façades and roofs of the residential building, the common building and the entrance pavilion at the edge of the road heading towards Sainte-Opportune-du-Bosc; fence walls surrounding the large courtyard, the courtyard west of the communes and the lawn southwest, including support; the entire soil inside the fences; ground floor hall, staircase, large square living room on the first floor and living room contiguous: classification by decree of 14 May 1952 - On the edge of the castle (Saint-Opportune-du-Bosc AD 14 to 37, 38p); great prospect of the castle (cf. The Neubourg A 9): classification by order of 13 October 1971 - The following parts constituting the park and the surroundings of the castle (with the exception of already classified parts): park, all the walls and all the garden facilities known or to be discovered; large north-west/south-east axis for the part between departmental 39 north and rural wood road south; Colombier Wood Reserve: soil, half moon and star paths between vicinal road 40 in the southeast and the building plots to the northwest (see Box Sainte-Opportune-du-Bosc AD 39 to 48, 1, 2 ; AC 492, 494-498, 500-504; Neubourg A 1 to 6, 8, 12 to 14, 20, 23, 27, 29 to 47): entry by order of 21 July 1995 - Castle: common, entrance pavilion and house corps; part of the park (ca. Sainte-opportune-du-Bosc AD 83, 82, 80, 39 to 46; Neubourg A 1 to 3, 31 to 33, 35, 43, 38, 42, 41, 47, 46): by order of 12 October 1995
Key figures
Alexandre de Créquy - Count and sponsor
Founded the castle in 1653.
Anne-François d’Harcourt - Duke of Beuvron
Renovate the castle in the 18th century.
Jacques Garcia - Decorator and owner
Restaura gardens and interiors since 1992.
André Le Nôtre - Landscaper assigned
Garden plans (uncertain).
Gilles Boutrolle d'Estaimbuc - Former owner
Created a golf course in the 1980s.
Origin and history
The Château du Champ-de-Battle was built between 1653 and 1665 for Alexandre de Créquy, Count exiled by Mazarin, on an estate inherited from his mother near Neubourg. Inspired by the fascists of the court of Louis XIV, this classic brick and stone palace, attributed without certainty to an unknown architect, became the symbol of his lost ambition. The only documents of the period preserved are two plans of gardens, perhaps due to André Le Nôtre, while Créquy died in debt in 1702, leaving the castle to his nephew, Gabriel René de Mailloc.
In the 18th century, the estate passed into the hands of the Dukes of Harcourt, notably Anne-François d'Harcourt, who undertook major renovations (scaling, neo-classical chapel, theatre in the communes) and enlarged the estate in 1765. The Revolution interrupted the work: the castle, sequestered and looted in 1795, was sold in 1802 to the Countess de Vieux, then changed hands several times in the 19th century, undergoing various dismemberments and uses (hospice, prison). In 1903, Count Charles d'Harcourt partially restored it before reselling it in 1936.
Since 1992, decorator Jacques Garcia has undertaken an ambitious restoration, recreating the French gardens (inspired by a sketch attributed to Le Nôtre) and interiors in the spirit of the eighteenth century. The park, structured in seven "degrees" symbolizing creation (from mineral to spirit), includes ancient factories (columns of the Tuileries, Greek temple), basins, and Anglo-Indian gardens opened in 2023. Ranked a Historic Monument since 1952, the castle now combines heritage and contemporary creation, with a golf course built in the 1980s and private spaces such as the library or orchid greenhouses.
The gardens, labeled Remarkable Garden, cover 45 hectares and combine boxwood embroidery, allegorical groves (Ereb, Eden), and monumental perspectives (Grande Terrasse, 550 meters canal). Among the notable elements: the Source (circular basin evoking the primordial ocean), the Théâtre de Verdure (inspired by Ephesus), and the Belvedere (composed of remains of the Marly castle). The castle's collections include Japanese armor, antique statues, and period furniture, while cultural events (sons and lights) were held until the 1990s.
The history of the castle reflects the political and social upheavals of France, from its foundation under the Ancien Régime to its renaissance under the impulse of passionate owners. The Dukes of Harcourt, in particular, left a lasting imprint, with restorations in the 20th century (1903-1934) and the transmission of the estate until 1982. Today, the Battlefield embodies a dialogue between heritage and modernity, where the art of gardens and classical architecture provide a framework for reflection on creation and memory.
The site, private property, is partially visited: the Grand Apartments (Hercules lounge, parade room), the chapel, and gardens (except reserved areas such as the Hermitage or greenhouses). The surroundings, classified in 1971 and 1995, protect a 1.5 km perspective and a 110 hectare wooded estate, reflecting the landscape ambition of the 17th and 18th centuries, reinterpreted by Jacques Garcia in a historical and poetic approach.
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