Château de Blandy-Les-Tours

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Blandy-les-Tours – a castle from the Hundred Years’ War

From a simple fortified manor house to a fortress during the Hundred Years’ War, from a residential castle transformed into a farm, the Château de Blandy-les-Tours has a long history and many prestigious families have figured among its owners. Restored by the Conseil Départemental de Seine-et-Marne, the castle, a rare example of medieval military architecture in the Île-de-France region, is now combines a heritage site and a venue for contemporary artistic creation.

History of Château de Blandy-les-Tours

Viscount Guillaume II and Viscount Adam III of Melun, direct descendants of Adam II who fought alongside Philippe Auguste at the Battle of Bouvines, built the first fortified wall around the Manoir de Blandy in 1220 to make it their stronghold. The Comté of Melun was part of the royal estate, so the fortress represented a show of royal strength as well as occupying a strategic position to keep watch over the border shared with the impetuous Comte de Champagne. In 1316, the Viscounts of Melun formed an alliance with the Comtes de Tancarville. Structural changes and new buildings transformed the old manor house into the castle we see today.

For 250 years after the Hundred Years’ War, the castle belonged to the most illustrious families of the kingdom : its owners were related to the families of Orléans-Longueville, Bourbon-Soissons, Savoie and Nemours.

The castle keep

The castle was refurbished in the style of the day with a gallery, ‘jeu de paume’ (real tennis) court, ‘modern’ facilities, decoration and ornamental garden, but there no significant changes were made to the surrounding walls. The 18th century saw a major turning point in the history of Blandy centred round the figure of Maréchal Claude-Louis-Hector de Villars (1652-1734). On being made a duke in 1705, de Villars needed to acquire lands to legitimize his new rank so he bought the Comté of Melun and the Seigneurie of Blandy from the Duchess of Nemours’ heir. His new title was tied to the land of Vaux-le-Vicomte whose château he bought that same year. Starting in 1707, the Maréchal converted the castle of Blandy into a simple farm.

Château of Blandy-les-Tours – a listed historic monument

Le donjon du château de Blandy-les-Tours — In the mid-19th century, the ruined castle aroused the interest of local scholars and 1883 Comte Choiseul-Praslin agreed to sell the castle to the town. Six years later, it became a listed historic monument but quickly fell into a critical state of ruin. It was not until 1986 that a restoration project was drawn up. In 1992 the departemental local authority bought the property for a nominal fee and restoration began. Since its opening in 2007, many visitors have climbed the steps of the keep, walked around the curtain walls and admired the shades of light reflected on the ramparts.

Events at Château de Blandy-les-Tours

Every year, artists from around the world flock to the castle heritage venue. Dance and drama, street art, music and circus performances from April to October take place in the forward-looking fortress of Blandy. Numerous original events are held throughout the year : May médiéval, Festival Fetnat on 14 July, Créneaux de la Nuit (open-air cinema) in August, Festival Pains d'Epices et Papillottes in December. A few kilometres away lies the Domaine de Frévent, a Gites de France approved property with 3 gites, B&B with 3 guest rooms and 4 tree houses at the heart of wooded grounds of 11 hectares, a real haven of peace and tranquillity.

Opening times for Château de Blandy and shop :

1 April – 31 October : 10.00 - 18.00. 1 November – 31 March : 10.00 – 12.30, 13.30 – 17.00.

Closed every Tuesday plus 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.

Explore Seine-et-Marne with Gites de France Seine-et-Marne : medieval town of Provins, Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, Disneyland Paris, Forêt de Fontainebleau, Musée de la Gendarmerie - Melun"