Château de la Terrasse

Was this once a mighty fortress? It’s hard to believe standing here before the Château de la Terrasse. Today, it’s a medical center. However, the echoes of its tumultuous past still resonate. The Château de la Terrasse wasn’t always a château. It began as a humble medieval dwelling. Then, in the 13th century, the Knights Templar, drawn by the fertile lands of Clichy, established a commanderie here. This fortress, built in 1268, was a symbol of their power. Unfortunately, time and conflict haven’t been kind to the commanderie. Only its foundations and cellars remain. The Château de la Terrasse, as we see it now, rose from the ruins of this Templar stronghold. It has undergone thirteen transformations, a testament to the ever-changing tides of history. Imagine the scene in 1491: the Hundred Years’ War had ravaged the land, and the old commanderie lay in ruins. It was rebuilt, only to face centuries of neglect, slowly deteriorating until the 18th century. By then, the Knights Hospitaller, another powerful order, had become its custodians. They undertook a significant renovation in 1778, leaving a lasting mark on the building. The French Revolution brought about a dramatic shift in the Château de la Terrasse’s fate. The church’s properties were seized, and the château found itself in the hands of the Mallet family, Genevan bankers. They erected a new château just north of the commanderie, adding a touch of elegance to the site. The grand staircase, a reminder of their ambition, still graces the château’s interior. The early 19th century saw another illustrious figure take ownership: Marshal François Christophe Kellermann, Duke of Valmy, a hero of the French Revolutionary Wars. He envisioned a grander Château de la Terrasse. Around 1800, he embarked on an ambitious project, transforming its appearance. The entrance gate, with its elegant design, dates back to his era. Though it has lost the Kellermann coat of arms, it still stands proudly. The nearby janitor’s lodge, a silent witness to Kellermann’s time, has survived, bearing the scars of the 1870 Prussian occupation. Fast forward to the mid-20th century. The château was owned by Mr. Grampa, an individual with eclectic taste. He decided to redecorate the double room, blending antique elements with Egyptian and Greco-Roman influences. A Parisian apartment yielded its fireplace, which found a new home in the château around 1965. Today, the Château de la Terrasse stands as a testament to the ebb and flow of time. Reduced in size and transformed into a medical center, it no longer evokes the imposing presence of the Templar commanderie. Yet, behind its modern façade lie centuries of stories, whispered by the very stones that have witnessed it all.