Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Bussemont Castle, located in the commune of Saint-Lumier-la-Populause (Marne), came into being in 1664 with the construction of a mansion by Louis-François de Tournebulle. This original building was replaced at the end of the 19th century by the present castle, restored and raised in Louis XIII style by Jean-Baptiste Ange Morillot, then his son Adrien. The local tradition, corroborated by the Dictionnaire biographie de la Marne, attests that the grand salon housed the last Meeting of the Notables of Champagne in 1788.

The building, composed of a central body and two stone and brick wings, was partially destroyed during World War II. Its three arched bridge, spanning the moat, was rebuilt in 2020 by the company Varnerot (Verdun) from iconographic archives. The 32-hectare park, crossed by the Bruxenelle, houses a 19th-century Byzantine chapel. Acquired in 2011 by the Almoayyed family, the castle then benefited from major works, including the creation of a French garden.

Several personalities marked his history: Léon Morillot (1838–1909), a politician and owner, died there; His sons Octave (painter) and Roland (Navy Officer) were born there. The castle thus illustrates the architectural and family heritage of the region, combining historical heritage and contemporary restorations.

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