The Valois Route

Versigny Castle

Among the first to have embodied this desire for transmission, Guy-Pierre de Kersaint was one of the driving forces behind this dynamic. A stately residence at the gateway to Valois, the Château de Versigny underwent significant transformations in the 17th century.^e and XIX^e centuries. Despite the ravages of the world wars, the Kersaint family has been restoring and maintaining this monumental heritage for three generations now. We had the chance to meet him on his estate to discuss his passion for the Valois: "The Valois region is a breeding ground for French history that is not sufficiently showcased. What makes it so strong is the diversity of its architecture and landscapes: forests, barns, churches, castles... It is a heritage in the broadest sense."

He occasionally organizes guided tours of the castle: "Many visitors know Versigny by name, but are unaware of its history. When they come, they discover the family heritage, an almost initiatory journey."

The Château d'Orrouy

A few kilometers away, on the edge of the Compiègne forest, stands the Château d'Orrouy, a place steeped in history. Dating partly from the 15th century^e century, it was profoundly transformed in the 19th century^e century under the leadership of Count Armand Doria. A great patron and collector, a friend of Corot, Daumier, and Manet, Doria made the château an artistic retreat, welcoming painters and intellectuals in a neo-Gothic setting. This prestigious past, inscribed in stone, continues today to thrill the walls of Orrouy and the heart of its owner, Bruno Grégoire-Sainte-Marie. It is in this setting that the voice of the latter, the new president of the association La Route du Valois since 2025, is expressed. "I spent my childhood in Valois, between Nanteuil-le-Haudouin and Crépy-en-Valois. Thirty years ago, I moved to Orrouy, in the Automne Valley. It's an area I know intimately."

For him, La Route du Valois must continue to grow and open up to everyone. This allows everyone to discover places that are sometimes closed, to participate in events and tours, and to better understand the richness of this region. But the association is more than just a tourist map. It is the result of the personal commitment of owners who have chosen to open their doors to share a story, a place, or an emotion.

The Gardens of La Muette

This desire to pass on knowledge is also expressed in the warm voice of Laurence Vivant, who grew up in Valois with her grandparents. Now the owner of La Muette with her husband Nicolas, they open their garden to the public during national events such as the Rendez-vous aux Jardins or the European Heritage Days, with original highlights, including a visit to a vast old stone quarry located beneath the park. “Opening the doors means sharing the joy of living here. I like to welcome everyone, but I have a particular attachment to schools. I often organize visits based on the five senses for children.”

Laurence is even preparing a mini-fair of gardening professions for 2026, in order to give young people another way of discovering heritage: through the earth, smells, light, living matter.

Le Plessis-au-Bois manor

A little further south, on the border between Oise and Aisne, the same commitment drives Diane de Longuemar, whose Plessis au Bois manor embodies the deep roots of Valois in the history of France. The manor, listed as a Historic Monument, is located on a site occupied since Antiquity and remodeled in the 15th century^e‑XVI^e centuries.

Diane, a renowned artist, and her husband Paul-Etienne chose to settle here more than thirty years ago, attracted by the unique character of the site, its space suitable for her monumental works, and its deep connection with the territory: "When we arrived about thirty years ago, we found old maps that all bore the name Valois. It's everywhere, but it has gradually been erased. We need to revive it."

This estate perfectly embodies an unknown wealth. Bought in the 17th^e century by Philippe d'Orléans, brother of Louis XIV, for its strategic hunting position, it has preserved a remarkable architecture of Soissons manor-farm. One can still see there today the central dwelling, the hexagonal keep-tower, as well as the dovecote. To immerse oneself in an almost enchanted atmosphere, the spirit of the end of the Middle Ages and the beginnings of the Renaissance is reborn in these enclosed gardens, which recall the seven days of Genesis. As Diane explains, "Visitors are always curious about the history of the place. There is a real emotion in walking through the doors of these private estates."

In terms of activities, it is possible to visit the manor gardens throughout the year as part of a nature outing or individually by making a request to Diane or Paul-Etienne. They also open their doors to national events such as the Rendez-vous aux Jardins and the European Heritage DaysThey also organize many art and vegetable plant exhibitions, such as the exhibition of “Vegetable plants with modern taste” in 2025 and an exhibition “Artists’ Invitation” every year at the beginning of autumn.

The Castle of Mont-l'Évêque

A younger spirit also runs through this collective adventure with Pierre de Pontalba, son of the owner of the Château de Mont-l'Évêque. He brings a fresh perspective, but one deeply rooted in the region: "The Valois region has an enormous cultural heritage that deserves to be better showcased. Participating in La Route du Valois means being part of a shared initiative to make sites visible, foster exchanges between local stakeholders, and create discovery routes." As a result, the La Route du Valois website plays an essential role in providing new visibility to the properties.

Born in Valois, Pierre is particularly sensitive to its architectural richness:
"Even more than in other more uniform regions, here we find an astonishing mixture: Gothic, Gallo-Roman, 19th^e century, with the added proximity of large cathedrals on the outskirts. This diversity is what makes up the identity of Valois.

For him, participation in the association fills an important heritage gap, by giving a common voice to the different sites.

The CMontépilloy Castle

Finally, another figure involved in the association, François Rouzé, owner of the Château de Montépilloy with his wife Élisabeth, is pursuing an active mission of rediscovery: « I joined the association from the beginning. The Château [de Montépilloy] is an emblematic historical monument, because its history and its architectural choices reflect the policies of the first direct Capetians as well as their successors from the Valois dynastic branch, whose kingdom would become present-day France. However, it still suffers greatly from a lack of notoriety. It is unusual, with its ruined tower that can be seen from afar, but few people know its history. It is absolutely essential to include it in a broader heritage circuit, in connection with well-known sites like Chantilly. That's how we attract and reassure visitors: they know they haven't come for nothing.

Originally from the Somme, François Rouzé emphasizes how the Valois region has been relatively spared from the great destruction that has marked other regions. "Here, you can still find castles in almost every village," he explains. According to him, this testifies to a true historical tradition, a very ancient foundation that has stood the test of time.

On site, it offers a permanent exhibition with display cases and objects from excavations and a 3D projection of the reconstructed castle. Exceptional events were also organized, such as a medieval festival with reenactments, a local market and old trades, and horse tournaments, or the opening of the estate for La Nuit des Châteaux, with shows, conferences and meals.

For the year 2025, the Heritage Days also provide an opportunity to present construction projects: "The tower has a crack. It will be the subject of work in collaboration with the DRAC (Regional Directorate for Regional Development). And the place will be brought to life, notably thanks to the restoration of a bread oven, which will be used to organize workshops dedicated to bread making."