Château des Dames and its park

The Château des Dames at Châtelet-en-Brie takes its name from the nuns of the Royal Abbey of Saint-Louis de Poissy, holders of the lordship of the Châtelet lands from the 14th century to the Revolution.
The Château des Dames was built in the 14th century following the donation of the estate to the nuns of the Royal Abbey of Saint-Louis de Poissy by King Philip the Fair. They turned it into a fortified farm, with both a defensive and an agricultural role. They kept it until the French Revolution, when the lordship was sold as national property. Several owners followed, farming the land without making any significant changes to the castle.
In 1861, Polycarpe Maclou Poussié purchased the estate. He was a prosperous notary in Aubervilliers. He was a member of the Municipal Council of Châtelet-en-Brie, a member of the Melun Agricultural Society and vice-president of the Horticultural and Botanical Society. Between 1877 and 1885, he completely renovated the castle with architect Pierre-Victor Cuvillier. He built a castle and modern farm buildings inspired by medieval architecture. These constructions were carried out according to a layout quite close to the pre-existing structure. The Château des Dames then became a family residence enhanced by a park. Through the prosperity of its farm, in operation until the 1960s, it functioned in near self-sufficiency. Between 1965 and 1978, the lands, the farm and the castle were gradually sold.
In 1998, the municipality of Châtelet-en-Brie became the owner of the castle, the farm and its park, to enhance the building and turn it into a cultural venue. The Château des Dames now houses : inside the castle, the Media Library, and in the courtyard, the socio-cultural hall "Le Manège". The park is a place for walking open to all.