The history of the Château Les Aulnois

Located in the heart of the village of Pierry, opposite the church, the Château Les Aulnois is a hidden beauty, nestled at the foot of the hills and vineyards of Pierry, famous since the eighteenth century for the high quality of its wines.

The Chateau, remarkable for its architectural qualities, its French garden and the tapestry of the large octagonal reception room has been included in the Inventory of Historic Buildings since 1986.

The Château is also a witness of the birth of Champagne and its development.

Its story

Originally, the property was a rich vineyard consisting of 22 acres of vines, a wine plant, wine cellars and grape presses.

Andre DELAPLACE, Advisor to the King and General Finance Collector, acquired the property in 1771.

On this site, he built the Château in 1778 and made it into a summer country home.

The place is a living entity of its own, including all the necessary facilities fro the production of wine and all the elements for an easier domestic life.

It possessed a well, a dovecote, a laundry, a bakery, a vegetable garden, an orchard, a large ornamental garden and a yard.

André DELAPLACE soon developed the wine business and its trade.

During the last decade, it became an important shipper of champagne.

At the French Revolution, he was forced, in 1791, to sell his estate to Sieur Tirant de Flavigny, also a champagne producer and merchant living in Aÿ.

Until today, the Château Les Aulnois changed hands several times but fortunately,in every episode of its long existence, it has always been in the hands of those wishing to preserve and transmit the beauties and traditions of the property.

The beautiful decorations of the eighteenth century such as the brick-work, slabs of stone, handles and locks and mirrors are still present in the Château

These details contribute to all the homely charm and atmosphere of this very special Château.

Architecture

The main building was built, from its basement to its tower, around a central octagon in a harmonious symmetry.

On the ground floor, the large octagonal reception room is decorated with a wallpaper depicting scenes and characters of Greek mythology and scenes of Ovide’s Metamorphoses.

The forty doors and windows are framed by orange coloured bricks which are characteristic of that era.

The beautiful south-west exposition of the main building shelters it from wind and allows the sun to flood into the reception rooms and bedrooms.

From a past wine making property, remains an impressive wine press house in the beautiful west building.

Over the time, the Château has lost its wine producing function to become an elegant place of residence.

The Jardin à La Française

The lawns are lined with pink rose bushes.

The symmetry and precision of the Jardin à la Française and the balance and harmony inspire calm and quietude.

It also provides relaxation areas either on the terraces or on the lawns. You can sit there and read, write, work, chat, drink a glass of champagne or simply do nothing, just be lulled by the singing of the birds.

At night, the garden can be conducive to secrecy, declarations of love, marriage proposals ….….!

Such a place of romance and champagne are perhaps not unrelated ?

Guest House : a new destiny for the Château Les Aulnois.

Work to convert this property into a guest house was undertaken in 2005.

It took four years to give the building all its modern comfort whilst preserving the beautiful decorative elements of the eighteenth century.

Five guest rooms

Five guest rooms with their own private bathrooms and toilets are proposed.

The paved courtyard

The courtyard with its original cobblestones once used by carts bearing the harvested grapes was covered by gravel and grass. These cobblestones have been re-laid showing the hexagonal pattern of the whole architecture.

This yard is now a place of convenient and secure parking for visitors’ cars.

The kitchen-garden

The garden has been brought back to life and supplies fresh vegetables and herbs for cooking for the guest table.

The reception areas of the Château

Lounges are available to guests.

Why not sit around a lit fireplace on a cold winter evening?

Seminars of up to 20 can be organised.s

The garden

                Garden furniture is available to relax on the terraces, lawns and under the lime trees.

In summer, cocktail parties, appertizers can be organised.

Should the weather be bad, then there is the grape press house which can be used as a fallback for these functions.

The kitchen has been transformed into a room where it is good to live. It has become the heart of the house.

Guest can come here freely and spontaneously to read, drink tea, play cards or just chat.

The open fireplace and grill, the Aga stove, lit permanently, radiates warmth making this room convivial in which one can dine or just drink a glass of champagne.