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Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Grosbois, built in the 16th century in a Renaissance style influenced by Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, is distinguished by its U-shaped plan and its curved central body. Built on a platform surrounded by ditches, it was accessible by three bridges. Its architecture combines symmetrical pavilions and low wings, reflecting the elegance of the era.

Originally a royal estate mentioned in 1190 under Philippe Auguste, Grosbois became in 1563 owned by Raoul Moreau, treasurer of the Épargne, before being enlarged by Nicolas de Harlay de Sancy, Superintendent of Finance. The latter, famous for possessing the Sancy diamond, adds luxurious elements. In the 17th century, the castle passed into the hands of Charles de Valois, Duke of Angoulême, who completed its construction around 1640 and commissioned nuptial decorations rediscovered in 1910.

During the Revolution, the estate was confiscated and sold to Barras and acquired in 1801 by General Moreau. Napoleon I bought it back in 1804 to offer it to Marshal Berthier, Grand Veneur of the Empire. The latter transformed the interior, creating a gallery of the Battles and an imperial salon, and enlarged the park to make it a hunting reserve competing with Fontainebleau. The castle even houses the king of Rome in 1814, before Berthier's exile.

In the 19th century, Berthier's heirs, including the prince of Wagram, preserved art collections and a library of 3,000 books. In 1914, the estate moved to the La Tour d'Auvergne family, which added modernist furniture in the 1930s. During the Second World War, he served as a seat for the Luftwaffe and as a stage for films such as Madame Sans-Gêne (1941).

Since 1962, the castle has been owned by the Société d'encouragement à l'élevation du Cheval Français, home to an equestrian training centre and, since 2010, the Trot Museum, the largest in Europe. Ranked a historic monument in 1948, it combines architectural heritage and Napoleonic memory, while playing a key role in the world of horse racing.

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