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Welcome to Bertangles at Château de Clermont-Tonnerre

Classified as a historical monument, the Chateau de Clermont-Tonnerre is located in the Hauts-de-France region, not far from Amiens, and is recognized as one of the largest castles in the North of France.

It is decorated with a huge park of French gardens.

Throughout history

The castle succeeds a long line of fortified castles, manors, many times burnt over the wars and rebuilt.

For almost 1000 years, only three families have followed one another directly in the Bertangles domain, including the Clermont-Tonnerre family, the current owner.

Build

Built in peace time between 1730 and 1734 in a regency style by Count Louis Joseph de Clermont-Tonnerre, the castle is dedicated to the arts and the pleasures of the festival.

It extends over a vast site of several hectares enclosed by wall.

The main grate, due to Jean Veyren aka “Le Vivarais” majestically adorns the entrance of the domain.

 

 

During the revolution

In 1789, the Clermont-Tonnerre, supported by all the villagers, refused to leave Bertangles.

At the height of the Terror, to avoid arrest by the revolutionaries from Amiens, a compromise was found: the heads of the statues of lions overlooking the forest were guillotined and thrown into a ditch.

After Thermidor, the lion’s heads are simply replaced.

The traces of “decapitation” are left apparent …

 

World War I

During the Great War, Chateau de Bertangles served as headquarters of the British General Staff, for the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and then to the Australian General Staff under the command of General John Monash.

Sir John Monash


It was at the Chateau de Clermont-Tonnerre that the decisive attacks of the Battle of Amiens were conceived, leading to the “Black Day of the German Army” and to victory a few months later.

General Monash's Knighting by King George V

On August 12, 1918, King George V knighted General Monash.

The first time a British monarch had honoured a commander in such a way in 200 years

The ceremony takes place in presence of all the command on the steps of the castle. (Movie here)

August 12, 1918 - German artillery took on the battlefield

 On 24 April 2016, on the eve of ANZAC Day, the Governor General of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove, on the occasion of the first visit of an Australian head of state to France, paid a visit to Bertangles to pay tribute to General John Monash.

Visite du Gouverneur Général d'Austalie Peter Cosgrove
Sir Peter Cosgrove – SEM Stephen Brady – Stanislas de Clermont-Tonnerre

He is accompanied by a part of the Australian government a few days before being officially received at the Elysee.

Sir Peter Cosgrove - Cadel Evans - Daniel Keighran - Ross McInnes - Stephen Brady - Dr James Kember - Mark Fraser - David Eliott - George Mina - Alain Gest - Philippe de Mester - Col Anthony Egan - Sir Christopher Clark - Major General David Chalmers - David Fricker - Christian Cambon - Tim Fisher
Sir Peter & Lady CosgroveStephen BradyCadel EvansDaniel KeighranRoss McInnesPascale BoistardDr James KemberMark FraserDavid EliottGeorge MinaAlain Gest Philippe de Mester – Col Anthony Egan – Sir Christopher ClarkMajor General David Chalmers –  David FrickerChristian CambonTim Fisher
Australian MP Andrew Broad's Visit
Australian MP Andrew Broad – August 2016

 

SEM Ambassador Stephen Brady - Stanislas de Clermont-Tonnerre - PM Tony Abbott
Prime Minister Tony Abbott visit – March 2017 (Twitter src)