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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Lions Castle, located in Le Port-Marly in the Yvelines, is an ancient residence of the lords of Prunay, rebuilt in 1806 by the owner Bezuchet. He sold it to the Marquis de Ferreti in 1824, then changed his hands several times: M. Brunet in 1835, M. de Villebresme in 1837, before being acquired in 1853 by Henri Rodrigues-Henriques, trustee of exchange agents in Paris. The castle, surrounded by a 17-hectare park, became a meeting place for artists such as Camille Corot, who painted several famous paintings there in 1872.

In 1858, the castle passed to Georges Rodrigues-Henriques, painter and exchange agent, and to his wife Lucie Etignard de La Faulotte. Their daughter Jeanne, wife of Jean Roland-Gosselin, had a cottage named Les Lionceaux built in the park. The family kept the estate until 1926. Purchased by the municipality in 1953, the castle has been home to the city hall since 1971. Its interior decoration, notably the room Jacques II decorated with paintings by Michel Dorigny (17th century), comes from another castle and was transferred in the 19th century.

Ranked and listed as historical monuments since 27 April 1972, the Lions Castle illustrates the architectural and social evolution of a seigneurial residence, transformed into a public place. The facades, roofs, the entrance gate with its lion statues, as well as the room James II, are protected. The site also retains carpentry elements and a painted ceiling reused during its reconstruction in the early 19th century.

The castle was mentioned in 1716 on an engraving by Nicolas de Fer, indicating an ancient occupation of the site. Demolished before 1806, the current building was rebuilt before 1819, as attested by this year's cadastre. Its history reflects changes in ownership and use, from the nobility to the local community, while preserving a remarkable artistic and architectural heritage.

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