This Yvelines castle is little-known and yet it is a real gem!

Bordered by a twelve-hectare forest, Château Barthélémy has stood in the south of Yvelines since the 18th century.^e century. The family home has been passed down from generation to generation. Its current owner wanted to make it a place of reception and fêtereviving the grandeur of the place and its various outbuildings. It tells the story of this emblematic setting, in this village of around 200 inhabitants. And if the place speaks to you, that's normal. It served as the setting for a TF1 broadcast, Welcome to the bride and groomin April 2021.

Seven generations of lords

Château Barthélémy has existed for almost 300 years. On the first floor, a room bears the name of Victorine, Marquise de Barthélémy. She is the first woman of the lineage to receive a title of nobility in the 19th century.^e century. The first known owner of the place in the 18th century^e century is Abbot Jean-Jacques Barthélémy.

The castle is still in the same family to this day. ” Here, seven generations have succeeded each other over 250 years. Our family tree has been simplified by the harshness of life. Descendants were missing between the Great War and the Second World War,” explains Camille du Pont de Compiègne. But it is also what allows the domain not to have undergone any division. “It’s as if we were 50 or 60 years behind a family from the same era,” he slips.

The place of residence of a family

Camille de Compiègne spent part of her childhood in this castle. “I remember that my grandmother, in the dining room, had a little bell to call the butler. And it's not that old, until the 2000s, there were house staff. Today it would be too heavy a load,” he confides.

In noble families, people did not work but Camille de Compiègne's grandfather, Bernard Du Pont de Compiègne, was a stockbroker. He was even the mayor of the village of Paray-Douaville for several years. This castle has always been a family residence. “We lived in Paris for its social aspect and we came on weekends and during holidays. »

A piece of South-Yvelines history

The castle opens its doors to the public very rarely due to the numerous privatizations throughout the year. However, it contains historical archives, such as the copy of the testament of Louis XVI. And like many other sites in the region, it was requisitioned by the Nazis during the Second World War. “We find letters of correspondence from our ancestors who were on the front lines of different battles. This ancient writing is very beautiful but difficult to read,” says Camille de Compiègne, who is counting on progress in artificial intelligence to decipher them.

“I think we have a duty to be open to prevent false ideas from being born. We are very approachable and humble. We didn't choose to buy a castle, we inherited it, as did the education that goes with it. It’s the village castle of Paray,” argues Camille de Compiègne.

One brand, pool parties

In 2016, a new brand appeared: Château Barthélémy. Weddingsseminars, photo shoots and even filming take place there. Dovecote, 324m² glass roof, bar, lounge, orangery, boudoir, gardens and heated swimming pool… so many spaces which allow events to be held and remain flexible according to needs. Spaces which, including the castle, can accommodate nearly a hundred people for one night or several.

Each room is equipped with its own private bathroom. And each of them bears the name of one of the owners of the castle since the 18th century.^e century.

€90,000 is needed each year to keep the castle alive, namely to keep it as it is. But above all it is a daily job. You must be vigilant for potential odors or leaks. For this, a team is dedicated to its daily inspection.

“Simplicity remains the most important thing. This is what we love to do. Here we are in a family place where people make the space their own. Which does not prevent us from organizing parties of 250 people or pool parties with DJs,” assures the lord Camille de Compiègne.

A high-end hotel experience

Being the eldest of two boys, when Camille's mother inherited the castle, she left it to him.

“I was lucky to inherit it young. When I turned 30, she passed the castle on to me. »

“I studied hospitality. I worked a lot abroad. I have been involved in five hotel openings in the Middle East and Caribbean. I cultivated organization and openness to others,” highlights Camille de Compiègne. Precisely, it was on his return, after having acquired real know-how and ideas which promised the profitability of the castle that he inherited. The squire's desire to receive well was recognized by the squire as early as his adolescence.

“At that age, we had no pocket money. To get it, you had to work. One summer, I replaced the butler during his vacation. He had a suit, a tie and he was allowed to drive the car. Obviously I wasn't allowed to, but I was cleaning the car. When I was 16, I started working and passed my BEP. »

From then on, Camille de Compiègne was stung. He subsequently obtained a professional baccalaureate in the hotel industry and followed an additional qualification in sommelier. “It’s added value abroad.”

“I associated the pleasure of receiving, of welcoming, of satisfying a client and all within my walls,” points out the lord who divides his time between the castle and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

“Each idea must be able to respond to a clear demand. We are here to respond to a customer request. It is difficult to create demand. Customers make the place their own like we did when we came on weekends. My experience abroad allowed me to open up to multiculturalism,” he adds.

A notion strongly imbued in this current castle box of several dozen sumptuous weddings each year.

Site Internet : www.chateaubarthelemy.fr

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