Villersexel
Encyclopedia
Villersexel is a commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...

 in the Haute-Saône
Haute-Saône
Haute-Saône is a French department of the Franche-Comté région, named after the Saône River.- History :The department was created in the early years of the French Revolution through the application of a law dated 22 December 1789, from part of the former province of Franche-Comté...

 department in the region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...

 of Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...

 in eastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

.

City

The city, or commune of Villersexel is located within the Haute-Saône department, located within the Franche-Comté region of France. As noted, the current population is less than 2,000 residents. The city center includes several restaurant's a school a church and the Château de Villersexel.

Battle of Villersexel

In 1871, a battle occurred within the area of Villersexel, with the chateau changing hands between the French and Prussians. For more information see the wiki page on the Battle of Villersexel
Battle of Villersexel
The Battle of Villersexel in the Franco-Prussian War opposed on January 9, 1871 elements of the French Armée de l'Est under General Bourbaki to August von Werder's Prussians...


Chateau

The Château de Villersexel is located within the heart of the commune of Villersexel. The current chateau was built over a short period of time circa 1871 in the architectural style of Louis XIII. Originally, the chateau was known as the Chateau des Grammont

History of Chateau

The current chateau was built in only a few years. Two previous chateau's have stood on the current site. Both previous chateau's were largely destroyed by fire. The fire which destroyed the second chateau occurred during the Battle of Villersexel
Battle of Villersexel
The Battle of Villersexel in the Franco-Prussian War opposed on January 9, 1871 elements of the French Armée de l'Est under General Bourbaki to August von Werder's Prussians...

. Remnants of the second chateau remain on the grounds. The second chateau was reportedly larger than the current chateau. Reportedly, both of the earlier chateau's were largely constructed of wooden timbers, as was common for many chateaus constructed during the 17th and 18th century.

After the second chateau was destroyed by fire, the baron was looking for a new architect who could design and build a structure that was more resistant to fire. At the time, the budding architect Gustave Eiffel
Gustave Eiffel
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel was a French structural engineer from the École Centrale Paris, an architect, an entrepreneur and a specialist of metallic structures...

 was experimenting with Iron as a structural material. The officially listed architects of the current structure are Eiffel and Garnier. The Chateau is registered as a historic building in France. The Château de Villersexel is entirely furnished in the style of that period.

Currently, the Château de Villersexel is privately owned, and serves several purposes. It is a private residence for the owners and their family and houses a small museum. Additionally, the Chateau serves as a destination for weddings, receptions, and other large events. This Chateau offers a venue for events, including weddings, shows and receptions. Rooms can accommodate up to 100 people, and the chateau can house up to 100 people overnight.

The Chateau is reported to have housed many famous guests and residents, including Lafayette, who is reported to have lived in this Chateau, with stays by Charles De Gaulle and Winston Churchill.

The Chateau receives constant upkeep and renovations, with the bedrooms reflecting history with names such as : Empire, Honneur, Rotonde and Montebello.

Chateau Owners

The Château de Villersexel is owned and maintained by the Baron and Baroness Potet. Baron Potet can trace his family back to the time of Charlemagne.

Links to Chateau

The Chateau de Villersexel website

Listing on the Historic Hotels of Europe

See also

  • Communes of the Haute-Saône department
  • Gustave Eiffel
    Gustave Eiffel
    Alexandre Gustave Eiffel was a French structural engineer from the École Centrale Paris, an architect, an entrepreneur and a specialist of metallic structures...

  • Battle of Villersexel
    Battle of Villersexel
    The Battle of Villersexel in the Franco-Prussian War opposed on January 9, 1871 elements of the French Armée de l'Est under General Bourbaki to August von Werder's Prussians...

  • Chateau de Grammont on French Wiki page
  • Community Website for Village of Villersexel
  • French Wiki page for Villersexel
  • Historical Pictures of Villersexel
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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