Here stands the Ch\u00e2teau de Combreux. This 18th-century ch\u00e2teau resides in Tournan-en-Brie. Today, it is a center for young adults. But its history is much richer than that.
Let’s journey back to the 12th century. Gervais de Combreux owned a ch\u00e2teau here. Sadly, no trace remains of that original structure.
From the 14th to 16th centuries, the La Mineray family possessed this land. They united it with Armainvilliers. The Ch\u00e2teau de Combreux we see now began construction around 1770. Louis de Jaucourt commissioned it. He was the first gentleman of the Prince de Cond\u00e9.
His son, the Marquis de Jaucourt, was quite the character. As mayor of Presles and deputy of Seine-et-Marne, he maintained a personal guard. He threw lavish parties here during the Restoration. The Ch\u00e2teau de Combreux was at the height of its political importance.
Imagine the scene. The Ch\u00e2teau de Combreux, newly rebuilt, stood simple yet vast. It overlooked a park spanning 160 acres. A charming valley lay on the other side. A stream flowed through the park. It powered a mill before disappearing into the Vilgenard abyss.
The Marquis cared for agriculture. He raised a flock of Merino sheep. Their lineage traced back to Rambouillet and Malmaison. The Marquis de Jaucourt passed away at the Ch\u00e2teau de Combreux in 1852.
His heirs sold the property to Jules Fran\u00e7ois Hennecart. Hennecart was a deputy of Vienne. He also served as mayor of Presles. He died at the ch\u00e2teau in 1888.
In 1896, the Ch\u00e2teau de Combreux found a new purpose. The Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul received it. They established a retirement home for nuns.
Later, Louis-Adrien Mentienne acquired the ch\u00e2teau. He was the mayor of Tournan-en-Brie in 1927. He also owned the agricultural estate. Mentienne died here in 1928.
From 1915 to 1930, the former adjoining farm became an orphanage for girls. From 1931 to 1940, it housed boys from the Vaugirard orphanage. During the war, the Ch\u00e2teau de Combreux provided refuge. From 1939 to 1941, it hosted the Saint-Joseph de Matzenheim school fleeing Alsace.
After 1940, the institution broadened its scope. It welcomed children from large families. Also, families with social challenges. In 1950, a small seminary was established. Father Constant led it. In the early 1960s, a college and high school replaced the seminary. The school closed in 1984. It lacked religious teachers and state approval.
From 1998 to 2019, the Ch\u00e2teau de Combreux housed the Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Ozanam social residence. The Fondation d’Auteuil managed it. It included a young workers’ home, an emergency shelter, and a social reintegration center. It could accommodate up to 112 young adults. They ranged from 18 to 25 years old. They needed to have a professional project. Residents received social and professional reintegration support. They could stay for months or up to three years.
The architecture of the Ch\u00e2teau de Combreux is neoclassical. Some attribute it to Claude-Martin Goupy. Others suggest his nephew, Martin II Goupy. Martin II Goupy designed the nearby Ch\u00e2teau d’Armainvilliers.
The park holds treasures. An orangery and an icehouse date back to the First Empire. The farm is typically from Brie. It likely dates to the 17th century. Some parts are even older. A square layout defines it. A gate leads inside. An old well and water pump stand nearby. Sturdy farm buildings surround the main house. The barn still has an imposing old frame.
The mill, noted in 1821, is gone. A main gate still welcomes visitors to the Ch\u00e2teau de Combreux. Also, a north-western door still stands at the old farm. The chapel adds to the estate’s charm. The Ch\u00e2teau de Combreux carries echoes of noble residents, dedicated nuns, and young people finding their way. It stands as a landmark. It reflects centuries of French history.