The Château de Baronville is located between Paris and

Chartres Chartres () is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Eure-et-Loir Departments of France, department in the Centre-Val de Loire Regions of France, region in France. It is located about southwest of Paris. At the 2019 census, there were 1 ...

in France between the towns of

Béville-le-Comte Béville-le-Comte () is a Communes of France, commune in the Eure-et-Loir Departments of France, department in northern France. Population See also *Communes of the Eure-et-Loir department * Félix Charpentier. Sculptor of Béville-le-Comte ...

and Oinville-sous-Auneau,

Eure-et-Loir Eure-et-Loir (, locally: ) is a French department, named after the Eure and Loir rivers. It is located in the region of Centre-Val de Loire. In 2019, Eure-et-Loir had a population of 431,575.Second Empire and hosted many prestigious guests. The harmonious architecture of the building is the result of a union between spaciousness and refinement in the classical style. The palace can be visited in group visits and can be rented exclusively. At Baronville, you may celebrate your wedding, hold a seminar or a business meeting, launch a product, or use for a photo shoot or film setting.

From the Roman Empire to the Counts de Rougé d’Aligre

Nowadays' Baronville is the third château built on the same place. The name Baronville dates back to the

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean and much of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. The Roman people, Romans conquered most of this during the Roman Republic, Republic, and it was ruled by emperors following Octavian's assumption of ...

. It was at this time that the place was called Baronis Villa, meaning 'house of the baron', itself a title held by 'hommes forts', who were charged with the protection of the empire's borders. In the Middle Ages, the château was a fortified manor house, of which there still remains a significant part of the

drainage Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of a surface's water and sub-surface water from an area with excess water. The internal drainage of most agricultural soils can prevent severe waterlogging (anaerobic conditions that harm root gro ...

system, the foundations and cellars. Local legend has it that the Pucelle d'Orléans, or Saint

Joan of Arc Joan of Arc ( ; ; – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the Coronation of the French monarch, coronation of Charles VII o ...

, saved Baronville and the surrounding countryside from English occupation during the

Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a conflict between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France and a civil war in France during the Late Middle Ages. It emerged from feudal disputes over the Duchy ...

. Between 1620 and 1623, a Louis XIII château was built on the same site by Claude de Montescot and his son, Jacques. In 1783, the d' Aligre family bought Baronville. Originally from

, this family had already given two great chancellors of France and Gardes des Sceaux: Etienne Ist, Marquis d'Aligre,

Chancellor of France The Chancellor of France (), also known as the Grand Chancellor or Lord Chancellor, was the officer of state responsible for the judiciary of the Kingdom of France. The Chancellor was responsible for seeing that royal decrees were enrolled and ...

from 1624 to 1635, and Etienne II, Marquis d'Aligre, Chancellor from 1674 to 1677. Etienne François, Marquis d'Aligre and Count de Marans spent a considerable part of his fortune in restoring the château and its former gardens. The property of the d'Aligre family, as well as their name and titles, were transferred by marriage to the noble house of the marquess of Pomereu by royal command on 21 December 1825. Armand, marquis de Pomereu d'Aligre, demolished the second château in 1867 and commissioned the architect Léon de Sanges to design the present château, which was finished in 1868. The same talented workers worked on the roofs of Baronville, of

Mont Saint-Michel Mont-Saint-Michel (; Norman: ''Mont Saint Miché''; ) is a tidal island and mainland commune in Normandy, France. The island lies approximately off France's north-western coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches and is i ...

(France) and on the

Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty (''Liberty Enlightening the World''; ) is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, within New York City. The copper-clad statue, a gift to the United States from the people of French Thir ...

in New York (USA). During the First World War, Catherine de Clermont-Tonnerre, Viscountess de Pomereu d'Aligre, set up a military hospital on the estate. During World War II, Field-Marshal

Friedrich Paulus Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus (23 September 1890 – 1 February 1957) was a German ''Generalfeldmarschall'' (Field Marshal) during World War II who is best known for his surrender of the German 6th Army (Wehrmacht), 6th Army during the Battle ...

made his headquarters in Baronville, and several other German units (including the

Luftwaffe The Luftwaffe () was the aerial warfare, aerial-warfare branch of the before and during World War II. German Empire, Germany's military air arms during World War I, the of the Imperial German Army, Imperial Army and the of the Imperial Ge ...

) occupied the Château. After decades of restorations of the park and the palace, it could be rented for exclusive events since 1980. The Estate is now home of the Count and Countess de Rougé d’Aligre (see

House of Rougé The de Rougé family whose former name was des Rues is a family of the French nobility from Anjou and dating back to the 14th century.Henri Jougla de Morenas, ''Grand Armorial de France'', tome VI page 74. Some historians believe that the exit ...

), since the last Pomereu d'Aligre of this line married Count Claude de Rougé. In 2011, the Count Aymeric de Rougé d’Aligre, great-grandson of the Marquis de Pomereu d'Aligre, restored (or "rebuilt") most of the Carrousel de Baronville, in order to host events and seminars. This part opened in 2012, after one year of refurbishments. Aymeric de Rougé manages the entire estate. In 2020, the count de Rougé converts the entire estate into organic farming, making it one of the largest organic estates in the department of Eure-et-Loir and the Paris area. Count de Rougé is also owner of the Champagne Comte de Rougé. As of 2022, the Baronville estate undergoes thorough renovation under the management of its owners, Count Aymeric and Countess Beatrice (granddaughter of US congressman

Oliver P. Bolton Oliver Payne Bolton (February 22, 1917 – December 13, 1972) was an American politician of the Republican Party who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1953 to 1957 and from 1963 to 1965. In 1953, he and his mother, Franc ...

) de Rougé d’Aligre.

Famous guests

Among other famous guests, Baronville hosted Texas’ first lady

Anita Thigpen Perry Mary Anita Thigpen Perry (born May 5, 1952) is an American nurse who was the longest-serving First Lady of Texas, being in that role from 2000 to 2015. She is married to former Texas Governor Rick Perry. As First Lady of Texas, she had been an a ...

Pippa Middleton Philippa Charlotte Matthews (née Middleton; born 6 September 1983) is a British socialite, author and columnist. She is the younger sister of Catherine, Princess of Wales. Born in Reading, Berkshire and raised in Bucklebury, Middleton atte ...

, sister of the

princess of Wales Princess of Wales (; ) is a title used since the 14th century by the wife of the Prince of Wales. The Princess is the apparent future queen consort, as "Prince of Wales" is a title reserved by custom for the heir apparent to the Monarchy of the ...

Paul Pogba Paul Labile Pogba (born 15 March 1993) is a French professional footballer who is a free agent. He primarily plays as a central midfielder. Born in Lagny-sur-Marne, Pogba joined the youth team of Ligue 2 side Le Havre in 2007. He joined Ma ...

Geoffrey Kondogbia Geoffrey Edwin Kondogbia (born 15 February 1993) is a professional association football, footballer who plays for Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille, Marseille, which he Captain (association football), captains. Primarily a defensive midfielder ...

, American model

Hilary Rhoda Hilary Rhoda Hollis (born April 6, 1987) is an American model. She is perhaps best known for her work with the brand Estée Lauder and her 2009, 2010 and 2011 appearances in the ''Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue''. Early life Rhoda was born ...

, Korean actress

Han Ye-seul Han Ye-seul (; born Leslie Kim, September 18, 1981) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in the sitcom '' Nonstop 4'' (2003), and has since played leading roles in television dramas such as ''Couple or Trouble'' (2006), '' Tazza ...

, Chinese actress

Angelababy Angela Yeung Wing ( zh, s=杨颖, p=Yáng Yǐng; born 28 February 1989), better known by her stage name Angelababy, is a Chinese model and actress. In 2013, she was chosen by '' Southern Metropolis Entertainment Weekly'' as one of the New Fou ...

, Brazilian footballer

Ronaldo Ronaldo is a Portuguese given name equivalent to the English Ronald. It became a common name in all Portuguese-speaking countries, also prevalent in other Romance countries. People Notable people known as Ronaldo include: Association footballe ...

, French actress

Audrey Tautou Audrey Justine Tautou (; born 9 August 1976) is a French actress. She made her acting debut at age 18 on television, and her feature film debut in '' Venus Beauty Institute'' (1999), for which she received critical acclaim and won the César Awa ...

, Italian-American actor

Alessandro Nivola Alessandro Antine Nivola (born June 28, 1972) is an American actor. His work includes both screen and stage, and his accolades include a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for a Tony Award and an Independent Spirit Award. Ni ...

, Daniela Cicarelli,

Roger Hanin Roger Hanin (born Roger Levy, 20 October 1925 – 11 February 2015) was a French actor and film director, best known for playing the title role in the TV police drama, '' Navarro''. Career Roger Hanin was born in 1925 in Algiers, Algeria as Rog ...

, Belgian filmstar

Benoît Poelvoorde Benoît Poelvoorde (, ; born 22 September 1964) is a Belgian actor and comedian. Early life His mother was a grocer and his father a driver, who died when Poelvoorde was still a minor. He attended the Collège Saint-Paul (Godinne), Jesuit Boar ...

Prince Jean of Luxembourg Prince Jean of Luxembourg (given names: ''Jean Félix Marie Guillaume''; born 15 May 1957), the second son of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. He is the twin brother of Princess Margaretha. He fre ...

Anne Fontaine Anne Fontaine (born Anne-Fontaine Sibertin-Blanc; 15 July 1959) is a Luxembourgish film director, screenwriter, and former actress. She lives and works in France. Life and career Born Anne-Fontaine Sibertin-Blanc in Luxembourg, sister of actor ...

, Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, French actress

Marie Gillain Marie Gillain O.M.W. (born 18 June 1975) is a Belgian actress. In popular culture * She was the heroine of the John Malkovich play ''Hysteria'' in Chicago in December 1999. * She is a model for cosmetics brand Lancôme. * In 2013 she was no ...

, Sir

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...

, Mr.

Pierre Salinger Pierre Emil George Salinger (June 14, 1925 – October 16, 2004) was an American journalist, author and politician. He served as the ninth White House Press Secretary, press secretary for United States presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon ...

Michel Galabru Michel Louis Edmond Galabru (27 October 19224 January 2016) was a French actor. Career Galabru appeared in more than 250 films and worked with directors such as Bertrand Blier, Costa-Gavras, Luc Besson (for '' Subway''), and Jean-Luc Godard. ...

, French actor, Emperor

Bảo Đại Bảo Đại (, vi-hantu, , , 22 October 191331 July 1997), born Nguyễn Phúc (Phước) Vĩnh Thụy (), was the 13th and final emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty, the last ruling dynasty of Vietnam. From 1926 to 1945, he was ''de jure'' em ...

, 13th and last emperor of Vietnam,

Charlotte Casiraghi Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi (born 3 August 1986) is a Monégasque model, socialite, equestrian and journalist. She is the second child of Caroline, Princess of Hanover, and Stefano Casiraghi, an Italian industrialist. She is eleventh in ...

Philippe Séguin Philippe Séguin (; 21 April 1943 – 7 January 2010) was a French political figure who was President of the National Assembly from 1993 to 1997 and President of the Cour des Comptes of France from 2004 to 2010. He entered the Court of Financ ...

, as well as a considerable number of French ministers, international diplomats and many others.

References

Sources

Official Website of the Chateau de Baronville
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chateau, Baronville Baronville Second Empire architecture Houses completed in 1868 Monuments historiques of Eure-et-Loir