Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Maison Bourlon, also known as Petit Château, is a building dated around 1635, built in Montfermel (Seine-Saint-Denis) on the site of an ancient medieval leproserie. It owes its name to its first owners, the Bourlon family. This classic building reflects 17th-century residential architecture in Île-de-France, while integrating traces of an older medieval past.

In 1742, the Petit Château was acquired by Jean Hyacinthe Hocquart de Montfermeil during the creation of the Marquisat de Montfermeil, marking its integration into a larger seigneurial ensemble. It became a dependency of the Château de Montfermeil, stressing its role in the local territorial and social organization. Over the centuries, the site evolved from an aristocratic residence to a place with various functions, including a monorail terminus in 1869.

In the 20th century, Maison Bourlon housed the Saint Paul institution, a school founded by Robert de Quatrebarbes from 1935 to 1962. Partly inscribed in the historical monuments in 1984 for its architectural elements (portal, facades, roofs), the site was rehabilitated in 1994 by the General Council. Today, it hosts an autonomous public institution dedicated to accompaniment of teenagers in difficulty, while its seigneurial farm houses the Museum of Trades.

The Petit Château thus illustrates a remarkable historical stratification: from medieval leprosy to seigneurial residence, then to contemporary educational and social use. Its inscription in the heritage protects a tangible testimony of local history, from the Old Regime to today.

External links