Urban Exploration - The Billiard Castle

We received photos from a traveler and compiled them into a historical summary.

Following the request made by Mr. Thierry Michot on June 24, 2025, please be advised that the site is no longer accessible. A rehabilitation project for the castle has officially begun. Consequently, it is no longer an "urbex" spot but an active renovation site.

And what an ordeal it was to reach this place! We had to hack our way through heaps of undergrowth. Over time, it has turned into a literal jungle. Back then, you had to brave mountains of brambles amidst a wild surge of angry plants!

A Local Dynasty
This castle was built in 1865 and has always been the heritage of the Besson family. Their role, much like local nobility, consisted of managing a colossal amount of land and livestock, which they made available through tenant farming. They established a sort of dominance over the village, reminiscent of ancient times. Is that an overstatement? Far from it. These prominent families provided jobs and land for an entire population that was very much in need of them.

The father, Vital Besson, had the annex built to house the servants. Inside this building, a tack room remained. All the horse equipment was still in place—it is easily the most beautiful part of the entire estate.

The Last of the Line
The son, Pierre Besson, was the last owner of the premises. He passed away in December 2015 at the age of 97. His grave is quite hard to find. If you expect to find a grand monument in the old cemetery, the reality is quite different. It is a very modest grave in the new cemetery. You wouldn't expect it. During our visit, we cleaned the headstone to give it a renewed sense of dignity.