The Château d'Orgeval (also called "Castel d'Orgeval") is located in the town of Villemoisson-sur-Orge, in the Essonne department, a few kilometers west of Viry-Châtillon.
This is an "Art Nouveau" style villa built in 1904 and 1905 by the architect Hector Guimard (1867-1942) who was one of the leading figures of this movement. We owe him many homes in seaside resorts in Normandy and second homes in the Paris suburbs.
The Castel d'Orgeval was commissioned by a Parisian promoter who had acquired a large plot of land in the locality to make it a luxury "garden city". This subdivision being called "Parc Beauséjour".
The materials used (millstone, brick, wood and rare cut stones) appear sober and contrast with the exterior shape (rounded walls, openings of various shapes and sizes, large number of terraces and towers). Each volume of the house has a roof, which will justify the nickname quickly given to the Castel: the mushroom house.
The layout of the rooms remains conventional, however, even though the architect also designed the interior decorations. In accordance with one of the principles of Art Nouveau, exterior and interior were designed in symbiosis.
Many specialists nevertheless believe that the production of Villemoisson-sur-Orge no longer exudes the same "fluidity" as Hector Guimard's previous works.
Property is always private. It is listed in the Inventory and is not open to visitors. However, it can be observed from the outside during a walk in the city. Information on +33 1 69 51 56 00.
