Bertangles – Amiens Métropole
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.
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.
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.
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 …
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.
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.
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)
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.
He is accompanied by a part of the Australian government a few days before being officially received at the Elysee.
