Urbex: Château Sarco aka Château de Nainville les Roches, France – March 2018

A Glimpse into the Past

In March 2018, our exploration of France led us to a location often whispered about in the community as “Château Sarco.” Unlike many European sites where locations are kept tightly under wraps, I feel comfortable naming this one: Château de Nainville-les-Roches. Why the change in protocol? Because this stunning piece of French history is no longer a “lost place.” It has been reclaimed from the grips of decay and successfully repurposed as an active events venue.

When we stepped inside in 2018, the Château was in a state of suspended animation. While it was clearly suffering from a lack of maintenance—dust settling on fine wood and wallpaper beginning to peel—it remained structurally sound and breathtakingly beautiful. The standout feature for me was the magnificent oval gallery on the landing; its symmetry and architectural elegance made it an absolute joy to photograph.

During that visit, we found remnants of its more recent past: administrative papers and equipment that suggested it had been used by the state, likely for military or emergency services. There were also traces of its life as a wedding venue, a role it seems the building was always destined to fulfil.

A Layered History: From Napoleon’s Minister to Firefighters

The site’s history dates back to at least 1724, when it belonged to the Lords of Boisse. However, the estate underwent its first major transformation in 1802 when it was purchased by General Savary, the Duke of Rovigo. Savary was a close confidant of Napoleon Bonaparte and served as his Minister of General Police. In an ambitious move, he demolished the original structure and the surrounding village houses to expand the grounds, building a new château and effectively relocating the village of Nainville to the east.

The building we see today, however, is a 20th-century creation. In 1922, Léon Carez, the then-mayor of the town, demolished the Duke’s château to build the current structure between 1922 and 1924. He was careful to preserve the history of his predecessor, incorporating original woodwork from the Duke of Rovigo’s era into the ground floor. If you look closely at the carvings, you can still see the Duke’s coat of arms and his defiant motto: “Deus mecum nihil timeo” (God is with me; I fear nothing).

In the mid-20th century, the Château took on a more utilitarian role. In 1953, it was acquired by the French state to serve as the National School for Fire Brigade Officers (ENSOSP). It remained a training ground for emergency services until the school moved in 2004. Sold to private owners in 2008, the building fell into a decade of neglect, the era of “Château Sarco” that we captured during our visit.

Architecture: The Louis XIII Revival

The Château is a premier example of the Louis XIII style, characterised by its “brick and stone” (brique-et-pierre) aesthetic. The architecture features:

• Contrast Materials: The striking red brickwork is framed by light-colored stone quoins and window surrounds.
• Steep Slate Roofs: High-pitched roofs typical of the 17th-century revival style, punctuated by ornate dormer windows and tall chimneys.
• The Interior: As captured in the 2018 gallery, the interior was designed for grandeur. From the sweeping circular entrance hall to the intricate moldings and hardwood floors, the building was designed to impress. The renovation has recently replaced over 150 windows, including the “bull’s-eye” (oeil-de-boeuf) windows in the attic, using traditional gold paint for the interior hardware to maintain historical accuracy.

Present and Future: A New Chapter

In 2019, Virginie and Denis Geny-Gros purchased the estate, saving it from further dereliction. They have since undertaken a massive restoration project to transform the 70-acre estate into a luxury event venue.

Today, the Château is fully alive again. The “sumptuous entrance hall” we explored as urban explorers now welcomes wedding parties and corporate seminars. The owners have even restored the 19 rooms and suites, allowing guests to stay within the walls that once sat silent. It is a rare “urbex” win—a building that didn’t succumb to the bulldozer, but instead found a way to bridge its 19th-century roots with a modern purpose.

Historical Construction Photo: I’ve also included a rare photo found online showing the Château under construction (circa 1923). It’s a fascinating look at the “bones” of the building before it became the icon of Nainville-les-Roches.

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