Château de Boursault

The Château de Boursault is a neo-Renaissance château in Boursault , Marne, France. It was built between 1843 and 1850 by Madame Clicquot Ponsardin, the Veuve Clicquot (Cliquot Widow) who owned the Veuve Clicquot champagne house. After being sold by her heir it was used as a military hospital in the first and second world wars. Today the Château de Boursault brand of champagne is made from grapes grown in the vineyards around the château and is aged in its cellars.

The present Château de Boursault was built by Madame Clicquot Ponsardin (1777–1866), founder of the Veuve Clicquot Champagne house, in honor of the marriage of her granddaughter Marie Clémentine de Chevigné to Louis de Mortemard-Rochechouard in 1839. It replaced the old castle of the barons of Boursault. Construction began in 1843 and was completed in 1850. Madame Veuve Clicquot retired to the château at the age of 64 and died there when she was 89.

Anne de Rochechouart de Mortemart (1847–1933), Duchess of Uzès, inherited the chateau on Madame Clicquot's death in 1866. She was the daughter of Marie Clémentine and Louis. The Duchess sold the property in 1913. It was used as a military hospital in World War I (1914–18) and again during World War II (1939–45). The park was converted to vineyards for production of champagne. The "Château de Boursault" brand of champagne continues to be made in the chateau and aged in its cellars. It is the only champagne with the "chateau" denomination in Marne.

Building

The château was built by the architect Jean-Jacques Arveuf-Fransquin (1802–76). It was located on the wooded summit of a hill planted with vines, and dominates the surrounding countryside and the village of Boursault. It was set in a magnificent park covering 11 hectares (27 acres). The chateau was designed in a Neo-Renaissance style. The building was designed for formal receptions. It has monumental architecture with a high roof. The windows are heavily decorated. It resembles the Château de Chambord , but has many more fireplaces. An 1882 description said "This beautiful residence contains all the riches of modern art, and attests to the generous and intelligent efforts of the princes of finance and industry to maintain the national taste at the level of its ancient traditions."