Property of the City of Paris, projects in sight for this endangered castle in Seine-et-Marne

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There was once talk of installing a reception area for travelers, a religious school or even an animal park… But over the years, all the projects imagined at the time Bellefontaine castlenear Fontainebleau (Seine-et-Marne)fell into the water. And in the meantime, it's a monument en danger which continues to fall into disrepair… Property of Nicolas Bergalasse, an advisor to Louis XVI, the Château de Bellefontaine – which has undergone several construction campaigns over the centuries – has seen prestigious owners, such as Prince Nicolas Troubetskoy and even members the Orloff family, like Nicolas Orloff, ambassador of the Russian Tsar in Paris.

Avon and Samois want to classify it as a Historic Monument

At the beginning of the year, the elected officials of Samois-sur-Seine and Avon – the estate is based on a 9-hectare wooded park, located straddling the two municipalities – voted for a request to have the building and its park classified under the title of Historical Monuments, pushed by the Collective for the defense of the castle and park of Bellefontaine (CDCPB), which has been fighting for years to restore this monument to its former glory.

But the castle – which also once hosted holiday camps – has a particularity: it belongs to the City of Paris. The senator Aymeric Durox (RN) had also called on the Minister of Culture to find out the State's position on this area and its potential classification as a Historic Monument.

Micmac between Paris and Samois-sur-Seine

In response, Rachida Dati, the tenant of rue de Valois, recalled that in 2018, a first request for classification had been made by the Federation of Associations of Sud-Seine-et-Marnais for the protection of the Seine valley .

“The investigation of this first request for protection could not be completed, due to the lack of response from the City of Paris to the requests addressed to it, in order to know its position on the “possible measure of protection of this castle, and failure to have been able to have access to the places to visit them”, replied the minister…

Contacted to find out its ambition for the future of the site, the City of Paris indicates that “the land policy, when these properties are located outside the Parisian territory, consists of engaging in joint work with the competent local public actors…”

And to add: “The objective is to favor projects (via transfers or leases) which make it possible to support local public policies or projects which benefit the territory…”

“A monument in danger”

Thus, the Paris town hall claims to have redirected several prospects to the town of Samois-sur-Seine “in order to explain their intentions to them before continuing the exchanges…” Comments that make Michel Chariau, the mayor of Samois-sur-Seine, jump. , who however confirms having recently met several project leaders:

“We are not the owners of the property,” he complains. We can say whether we like the project or not, but it is the City of Paris which decides… but which never says whether it is ready to sell or not. As long as they keep this speech, we will not be able to move forward. »

Asked about the nature of the projects presented to him, Michel Chariau did not wish to specify further. But according to our information, it would be a high-end real estate residence or even one company specializing in horticulture…

“It pains us to see this area decline,” continues the councilor. It is a sublime setting, but a monument in danger and the request for classification that we have made is precisely a way of protecting it, concludes Michel Chariau. However, we are keeping a close eye, there is no question that this castle will transform into anything…”

One May 2024, Rachida Data indicated that the Drac (Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs) of Île-de-France “plans to submit the file for this building to the permanent delegation of the regional heritage and architecture commission”, in order to rule on the opportunity to continue the examination of a protection file for Historic Monuments and to present it to the plenary session of the regional commission.

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