History

Chateau de Riaucourt has a long history. This page will cover the most important happenings.

Around the year 1294 lord Aubert de Poissons gave, with his two sons (Aubert and Hugues) a part of their property to the abbey of Saint-Urbain.

From 1609 to 1660 the castle changed ownership several times. The castle in it's current form consists of two parts. The old buildings (the Louis XIII wing) and the newer buildings (the Louis XIV wing). The newest wing is build in the year 1708 by Nicholas Maillot de Gevoncourt and was used for receptions and parties. This part of the castle is more than 300 years old but still has a lot of character.

During the French Revolution the high noble guests, the families Mollerat de Riaucourt and Marguetee Fleury, were not very worried. They bought their rest, at the price of some sacrifices. In 1793 some people searched the castle. The families had to hand over the weapons and were no longer welcome in the castle. During most of the 19th century the Maupas family lived in the castle, as they had connections with the Mollerat family.

Lord le Maquis de Maupas came early in his life in touch with weapons. He joined the war in Portugal in 1807 and distinguished himself in the last campaigns of the empire. During the reconstruction, he participated, as a lieutenant colonel, the Spanish expedition in 1823. At the beginning of the reign of Charles V he was appointed vice-governor of the Duc de Bordeaux (later Henry V). Like that he followed the royal family to Scotland during the revolution of 1830.

In 1832 he returned to the castle in Poissons with the crosses of Saint Ferdinand from Spain, Saint Louis from France and the Legion of Honor. When he died in 1862, the inhabitants of Poissons gave a beautiful funeral. His body was transferred to Paris to be buried in the family vault. Ms. la Marquise de Maupas, his wife died twelve years later. The castle was then held by her eldest daugther, mrs. Charlotte de Maupas.

When leaving Poissons, in the spring of 1892, the countess of Erceville sold the castle to a community in Haute Marne.
She wished that the castle would be used for a good cause. The castle was used as a retirement home for elderly women. In 1920 the castle needed several repairs and it was sold.

Paul Festugière, director of a metal factory bought the castle. He lived here a few years with his family and gave it to his daughter Odette Festugière, wife of Colonel Laurent Ballif. Colonel Ballif died at june 6th 1961. The current owners bought the castle from the Colonel's family.