Ancien Château de la Terrasse

What secrets lie beneath the surface of the Ancien Château de la Terrasse? This unassuming château in Clichy-sous-Bois has a surprisingly turbulent past. The Ancien Château de la Terrasse wasn’t always a château. It began its life as a Templar commandery in the 13th century. Imagine a formidable fortress, a testament to the power and reach of the Knights Templar. Sadly, only its foundations and cellars survived. The commandery was rebuilt in 1491 after the Hundred Years’ War. However, time and neglect took their toll. By the 18th century, it was a shadow of its former glory. The Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem, who took ownership, attempted to restore it in 1778. This was the last time the Ancien Château de la Terrasse stood in its original form. The French Revolution brought about another dramatic change. The château was sold to the Mallet family, Genevan bankers, who built a new château slightly north of the old commandery. This new building would undergo its own series of transformations. In the early 19th century, it was acquired by Marshal François Christophe Kellermann, Duke of Valmy, a distinguished figure known for his victory at the Battle of Valmy during the French Revolutionary Wars. He envisioned a grander design and renovated it around 1800. The elegant entrance gate on Allée Marcel-Paul is a relic of his ambition, although it has lost the Kellermann coat of arms that once adorned its pediment. The nearby gatehouse also dates back to his time, a silent sentinel from a bygone era. Sadly, the château suffered significant damage during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. In the mid-20th century, the then-owner, Mr. Grampa, decided to leave his mark. He redecorated the double living room with an eclectic mix of antique, Egyptian, and Greco-Roman elements, a testament to his personal taste. The fireplace, a later addition from around 1965, was brought in from a Parisian apartment, adding another layer to the château’s complex history. The Ancien Château de la Terrasse stands today as a much smaller structure, having undergone numerous transformations. It no longer possesses the imposing grandeur of the Templar commandery. It has served as a restaurant and now houses a medical center. Despite its tumultuous past, it remains a tangible link to Clichy-sous-Bois’ rich history. Each stone whispers tales of knights and revolutions, of ambitious dukes and eclectic collectors.