Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saussay Castle, located in Ballancourt-sur-Essonne in Essonne, finds its origins on an ancient Templar site and the ruins of a 15th century feudal castle. His history was marked by successive reconstructions, notably after a fire in 1590 during the Wars of Religion, where he was destroyed by Spanish troops. Reconstructed at the beginning of the seventeenth century by Laurent de Gaumont, treasurer general of France, he then adopted a pentagonal structure with round towers and a central entrance tower, still reflecting a defensive vocation.

In the 18th century, the castle underwent a major transformation under the impetus of Jean-Baptiste de Gaumont, intendant of finance under the Regency. The royal architect Jean Aubert, student of Mansart, harmonizes the wings of the castle by creating two symmetrical pavilions inspired by the Pavillon de la Lanterne in Versailles. The moat, the drawbridge and the fortified elements are gradually removed or adapted, notably by General Jean-Baptiste-Camille de Canclaux, who modernises the entrance with pavilions signed Claude-Nicolas Ledoux and transforms the park into a landscape garden with English.

The castle passes into the hands of influential families, from Gaumont to Braagelongne, then Colbert-Chabanais and finally Bourbon Busset in the 20th century. Each generation made architectural or landscape changes, such as the enlargement of the southeast wing by Pierre de Colbert in the 19th century or the redefinition of the park by Achille Duchêne in 1911. Partly inscribed in the historical monuments in 1951, the Saussay remains today a family residence and a film-making site popular for film productions.

Local materials, such as limestone, mill, brick and wood, have been widely used in its construction. The restorations of the 19th and 20th centuries preserved its historic character, while adapting certain elements to the tastes of each era, such as window frames by imitating stone or slate roofs. The castle thus illustrates the evolution of architectural styles, from medieval fortifications to residences of pleasure of the Lights.

Among the notable owners, Olivier Le Daim, a barber and adviser to Louis XI, acquired the estate in 1474 before falling into disgrace and being executed. The castle was then confiscated and passed into the hands of diplomats such as Jean de Selve, then of Parisian magistrates, including the Lhuilliers in the 16th century. These hand changes reflect the political and social upheavals of France, from the wars of Religion to the Revolution.

The Saussay was also a place of life for literary and historical figures. Victor Hugo and Walter Scott are inspired for works such as Notre-Dame de Paris and Quentin Durward, while academician Jacques de Bourbon Busset lived there until his death. Today, the castle remains inhabited by its descendants and continues to bear witness to seven centuries of French history, mixing architectural heritage, landscapes and family memory.

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