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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château des Ormes, built in 1642 by the brothers Pussort, uncles of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, is located in the commune of Ormes, on the edge of Vienna. It was acquired in 1729 by Marc-Pierre Voyer d'Argenson, Minister of War of Louis XV and friend of the encyclopedists Diderot and Alembert. The estate, which will house famous guests like Voltaire, was profoundly transformed by its successive owners, notably by the expansion and embellishment carried out in the eighteenth century.

The seigneury of the Ormes, mentioned in 1392, passed into the hands of several families before being acquired in 1642 by Antoine-Martin Pussort, uncle of Minister Colbert. His brother Henri, known for his austere character and his role in the condemnation of Fouquet, contributed to the development of the estate. In 1729 Marc-Pierre de Voyer d'Argenson, disgracified by Louis XV in 1757, retired to the Ormes and undertook important works, including the reconstruction of the castle by architect Pierre Meusnier, and then Charles De Wailly, a family-protected man.

In the 19th century, Marquis Marc-René-Marie d-Argenson, nicknamed "Marquis Rouge" for his liberal ideas, preserved the estate despite financial difficulties. However, he demolished the central body of the castle in 1822, leaving a gap between the wings until its reconstruction by architect Alfred Coulomb between 1904 and 1908. The estate, partially classified as a Historic Monument in 1966 and entirely in 2012, was restored by its successive owners, including Dr. Sydney Abbou, who made it a place open to the public.

The castle, marked by Italian and French architectural influences, includes a 20th century central body connected to two wings of the 18th century. Its park, transformed into an English garden at the end of the 18th century, houses an early 19th century cooler and a classified sheepfold, a former stable designed by Charles De Wailly. The estate also preserves traces of its illustrious past, such as family archives and elements of historical furniture.

The Voyer d'Argenson, a family of librophiles and patrons, assembled an exceptional library, now scattered. The Marquis Marc-Pierre, friend of Voltaire and protector of the Encyclopedists, received there the great spirits of the Enlightenment. His son, Marc-René, expanded the estate and introduced agricultural innovations. The castle, which has been open to the public since the 2000s, is labeled "Maison des Illustres" and classified as a Historical Monument for its architectural and landscape heritage.

The domain of the Ormes illustrates the evolution of architectural tastes and techniques, from the gardens to the French to the landscape parks, as well as the political and cultural history of France, from the wars of religion to the Revolution, to the Enlightenment. Its history also reflects the hazards of heritage conservation, between demolitions, restorations and successive transmissions.

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