Château du Francport is steeped in history and is filled with past significant historical events. The property was built for the Marquis de L’Aigle and had many noble visitors including Napoleon III. The Château is where the German delegates to the Armistice negotiations resided on the 11th November, 1918. The Armistice of the First World War was signed in a railway carriage in the forest of Compiègne, 1 km away, and is visited each year on the 11th November by the French President and many other dignitaries.
The current owner purchased Château du Francport, set in approximately 40 acres, in 1998. The Château was converted into a 72 bedroom luxury hotel complete with a 9-hole golf course. In 2000, it was let to a US based hotel group but following the events of 9/11, the company got into financial difficulties and the agreement was terminated in 2001. It took several years to cancel the lease and the building unfortunately went into disrepair. Problems were encountered with a local government official which eventually resulted in the owners making a claim against the French Government. After many years, the case eventually went to the European Court in Strasburg. In 2023, the owners were successful in this claim, with the French Government finally settling in full in December 2024.
In January 2025, the local government granted planning permission to convert the Château into 37 apartments and 75 car parking spaces. The 40 acres of land is designated for touristic use. The Château offers historic charm combined with modern living potential. Buyers can view short term rental values in the area online, including Pierrefonds Castle nearby.
