Time slipped away unnoticed. The Château du Bois-Courtin stood before us a testament to time’s passage. Its stone whispered tales of centuries.
This isn’t just any chateau. The Château du Bois-Courtin boasts a history stretching back to 1372. Records show Regnault de Villejust owning land here. Jean de Montagu followed in 1398. Thomas de Balsac even mentioned the “bois des courtines” in his records.
The estate’s story truly unfolds in 1820. Jean Alexandre Pauquet de Villejust purchased 114 hectares of woodland. Four hunting trails crisscrossed the property. Sadly after his death in 1839 the woods were cut down. But something new began. In 1841 open-pit milling stone extraction commenced. This marked a pivotal moment. A new pavilion arose. Built of millstone it featured five double-door openings on its main facade. A mansard roof capped it off. A zinc terrace added to its elegance. A farm workers’ quarters and a gatehouse completed the main complex.
Years went by. The landscape transformed. In 1932 the Ocampo family added a round tower to the facade. It’s still there today.
The Château du Bois-Courtin’s charm lies in its simplicity. A main building rises on a ground floor. A first floor and a second mansard story are added above. Three openings punctuate each facade on every level. Two projections flank the southern facade. Each projection holds two openings. The round tower stands sentinel. Its two openings are topped with a small bell tower. The entire structure is clad in slate. A zinc terrace crowns the building.
Today the Château du Bois-Courtin remains a private residence. It stands as a silent observer. Witness to centuries of changes. A reminder of the enduring power of history. It silently awaits its next chapter. A hidden gem waiting to be discovered again.