Château de Bertangles
The Château de Bertangles, also named Château de Clermont-Tonnerre, is a historic castle in Bertangles, Somme, Hauts-de-France, France.
Château de Bertangles Château de Clermont-Tonnerre | |
---|---|
General information | |
Coordinates | 49°58′21″N 2°18′6″E |
History
It was built from 1730 to 1734 for Count Louis-Joseph de Clermont-Tonnerre.[1] It was designed by architect Germain Boffrand.[1]
The gate, designed by Jean-Baptiste Veyren, was moved here from the Château d'Heilly in 1840.[1]
During World War I, the château was the Australian Headquarters under the command of General John Monash.
On 12 August 1918 Monash was knighted on the battlefield, a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, by His Majesty King George V, the first time a British monarch had honoured a commander in such a way in 200 years.
The interiors were burned in a fire in 1930, and restored shortly after.[1] It was later inherited by politician François de Clermont-Tonnerre.
On the eve of ANZAC Day on 24 April 2016, the Governor General of Australia Sir Peter Cosgrove came to Bertangles[2] offering tribute to General Sir John Monash, with a tree-planting ceremony and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.
Architectural significance
It has been listed as an official historical monument by the French Ministry of Culture since 1982.[1]
References
- Base Mérimée: Château de Bertangles, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
- Sydney Morning Herald: Chateau de Bertangles, scene of General John Monash's legend, should be better known, says Cosgrove