Imagine a diplomat with a passion for history. He also had a sugar fortune at his disposal. That was Edmond de Fels. Now you stand before the Ch\u00e2teau de Voisins. It is a testament to his vision.
The Ch\u00e2teau de Voisins has a captivating history. It is nestled between Gazeran and Saint-Hilarion. The story begins long before this current structure. We trace its roots back to 768. P\u00e9pin the Short granted the forest of Yveline to the monastery of Saint-Denis. It mentions Visiniolo near Rumbelitum. That is the origin of Voisins.
By the 13th century, a small manor existed here. Robert d’Artus acquired the estate in 1579. He obtained the right of high justice. The Robinet de la Roque family owned it until 1739. Charles-Louis Moufle de Georville then acquired it.
Jacques-Fran\u00e7ois de Croismare bought the ch\u00e2teau in 1776. He commissioned Ange-Jacques Gabriel to enlarge it. Gabriel was a renowned architect. He is known for the Petit Trianon and Place de la Concorde.
Edmond Frisch, later Comte de Fels, acquired the estate in 1892. He was a diplomat, writer, and historian of Danish and Swedish origin. He married Jeanne Lebaudy. She was an heiress to a sugar empire. This union brought immense wealth.
Invited to hunts by the Duchesse d’Uz\u00e8s, he sought a place near the Rambouillet forest. De Fels decided the existing ch\u00e2teau was too humid. Although an admirer of Gabriel, he demolished it.
Between 1903 and 1906, the current ch\u00e2teau arose. It was built about 100 meters back on the hill. The construction required moving 450,000 cubic meters of earth. The gardens took 26 years to complete. The cost was supposedly covered by the interest from the Countess’s dowry.
The Compagnie des Chemins de fer de l’Ouest even rerouted the Paris-Chartres line. This allowed stones from M\u00e9ru to arrive directly at the construction site. Ren\u00e9 Sergent replaced the first architect. He drew inspiration from Ange-Jacques Gabriel. De Fels had written a book about him.
The ch\u00e2teau features a ground floor, first floor, and an attic. Two wings are decorated with a triangular pediment. Despite its size, it exudes unity and dignity. The 47 rooms include modern comforts. There was central heating and hot and cold water.
Guests praised the ch\u00e2teau. Boni de Castellane noted its authenticity. He said that nothing is imitation. Henri and Achille Duch\u00eane designed the gardens. They worked with de Fels over several years.
During World War I, the ch\u00e2teau served as a military hospital. The Germans occupied it during World War II. They installed Marshal P\u00e9tain there in 1944.
Today, the Domaine de Voisins has three activities. There is agriculture with traditional farming. Hunting has been developed since the 1970s. The site is also rented for events and filming. “Les Visiteurs” and “Hunger Games” are among the films shot here.
Rarely are ch\u00e2teaux built all at once. This was before the economic and social upheaval of World War I. Boni de Castellane once said he wanted to see Voisins in 100 years. Today, we can confirm that the first century has been generous to the Ch\u00e2teau de Voisins. It stands as a testament to vision, wealth, and artistry.