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Origin and history

The Domaine des Fontaines is a neo-17th century castle built in Gouvieux (Oise) in the last quarter of the 19th century. In 1878, Baron de Rothschild acquired a land of 50 hectares and entrusted its transformation to architect Felix Langlais. The latter built the castle and the entrance door, known as the Tourelles, in 1880. The park, designed by Charles Masson, incorporates 18th century landscape elements, with views centered on the castle. The Rothschilds also built outbuildings such as a Norman farm (1892), stables, and a concierge house.

In 1946, the estate was sold to the Association Séminaire Missionaire de Gouvieux-Chantilly, intended for the formation of the Jesuits. The latter added several buildings, including a chapel decorated by Albert Gleizes (1950) and a library designed by Henri-Marie Delaage (1952). The castle, partially protected as historical monuments since 1999, retains remarkable elements such as its monumental staircase, the Norman farm with its octagonal pavilion, and the fisherman's house.

The estate illustrates the influence of the great industrial families of the 19th century, combining neoclassical architecture and ambitious landscaping. Its history also reflects its subsequent adaptation to religious and educational uses, marking a change of vocation without profoundly altering its built heritage. The 1999 protections highlight the heritage value of the facades, roofs and decorative elements characteristic of the era.

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