Locations

The singularity of the Grosbois estate lies in the fact that it combines a rich cultural heritage and professional training facilities for racehorses. The castle was built in the XVIIth century, additions were made in the XVIIIth century. The castle was first ordered by Nicolas de Harlay, which was superintendant of the King at the beginning of the XVIIth century. He built the central pavilion, which is half-moon shaped. It was then sold and completed by the duke of Angoulême who added the two side wings, the angle pavilions. He respected the architecture of the first building, hence giving an homogeneity to the castle. The golden age of the castle was reached when Marshall Berthier, Prince of Wagram owned the place. He took part to Napoleon’s Italian and Egyptian campains. Numerous rooms of the castle were converted when he was the owner. The castle was originally designed as a hunting lodge. It explains why this theme is recurrent both in the castle and in the park. Nowadays, the estate is a professionnal training center, a museum, a place to study the history of trotting and a chateau that can be visited on demand.