Bussy-le-Château () is a commune in the Marne department in the Grand Est region of Northeastern France.
Geography Bussy-le-Château is located some 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Châlons-en-Champagne and 40 km (24.8 mi) southeast of Reims. Access to the commune is by road D79 from Suippes in the north which passes through the commune and the village and continues south to Courtisols. The D66 road comes from Somme-Tourbe in the northeast passing through the village and continuing west to La Cheppe. The D994 forms the southwestern border of the commune as it goes from La Cheppe to Nettancourt. The European route E50 passes through the south of the commune from west to east but has no exit in the commune. There is also a railway line (LGV Est) parallel to the E50 but no station in the commune. The commune consists almost entirely of farmland.Google Maps
Neighbouring communes and villages
Toponymy The name Bussy comes from bu (wood) and yd (populated place). It has been known by many names over the course of time: Around 850 : Buxidum Around 1066: Buxitum Castelleum Municipium Buxiti Castri Around 1092: Bussiacum 1124-1130: Buxeium 1133-1142: Busseium 1161-1172: Buissi 1164: Villa Buseti 1170: Buisseyum ou Buiseium 1170: Buxi 1172: Bussey 1186: Buxi 1248: Bussi Castrum Around 1274: Boissi-Le-Chatel 1299: Bauscis 1314: Bussy-Le-Chastel 1352: Buissy (ou?) Buyssi 1392: Buxi-Le-Chastel en champagne 1396: Buissy-Le-Chastel 1405: Buissiacum Castrum 1546: Bussy-En-Champagne 1794: Bussy-Les-Mottes
History The Deanery of Bussy-le-Château and those of Châlons, Coole, and Vitry-en-Perthois were the four ecclesiastical districts which formed the large Archdeaconry of Chalons.
The deanery of Bussy contained the Parishes of La Cheppe, Coulmier (attached to Mutigny to form La Chaussée-sur-Marne), Coupéville, Courtisols, La Croix-en-Champagne, Dampierre-au-Temple, L'Epine, Le Fresne, Isle-sur-Marne, Juvigny, Marson, Pogny, Recy, Saint-Étienne-au-Temple, Saint-Remy-sur-Bussy, Sarry, Somme-Vesle, Tilloy-et-Bellay, Vésigneul-sur-Marne, and La Veuve.Chossenot (S.), Population and Occupation of land in the Deanery of Bussy-le-Château du Ve in the 15th century, Memoir of dominion under the direction of C. Vulliez et J. Lusse, University of Reims, UFR des Lettres et Sciences Humaines, 1998, 2 vol.
In the 12th century Bussy-le-Château was in the County of Champagne, one of the 26 castellanies-prévôtés held in fief from the Emperor, the King of France, the Duke of Burgundy, the Abbey of Saint-Denis, the Archbishops of Reims and Sens, and the bishops of Châlons and Langres.
In the 16th and 17th centuries the lordship of Bussy-le-Château as well as the lordships of Reynel, Choiseul, Lafauche, Vavray-le-Grand, Blaise, Vignory, and Sexfontaines were part of the prerogative of the House of Amboise.
The Lordship of Bussy-le-Château was elevated to the rank of a Marquisate by letter in the month of January 1699.François-Alexandre Aubert de la Chesnaye des Bois, Genealogical Dictionary, heraldry, chronological and historical, containing the origin and current status of the first houses of France, sovereign and major houses of Europe; the names of provinces, cities, lands, ... erected principalities, duchies, marquisates, counties, and viscounties, baronneries; extinct houses that have possessed, those by inheritance, purchase or donation or alliance of sovereign possess today, the noble families of the kingdom and the names and genealogies weapons have not been published by Messrs. D.L.C.D.B., Paris, Duchesne, 1757 It was then under the control of the Arnolet de la Rochefontaine family. The title was confirmed in 1703.
In 1770, Bussy-le-Château was held by the Cappy family.Henri Gourdon Genouillace (1826-1898), Dictionary of fiefs, manors, castellanies, etc. of ancient France, containing the names of the land and those families who have owned their provincial status, dates of possession, transmission or erection on titled lands, etc., etc., Paris, E.Dentu editor, 1862
Bussy-le-Château takes its name from an ancient fort which appears to have been of considerable size.
During the French Revolution, following the decree of the National Convention of 16 October 1793 (25 vendémiaire Year II), which invited communes with names that recalled the memories of the monarchy, feudalism, or superstition, to replace them with other names, the commune changed its name to Bussy-les-Mottes due to five large mounds in the middle of the village which were arranged in a row along the river.Mr Calmette, History of remarkable Cities, Towns and Villages in Marne, 1850 (reprinted in 1989 by La Tour Gile)
There was a war hospital outside the village during the First World War between the roads leading to Saint-Remy-sur-Bussy and Courtisols. There was also a railway for transport of troops.
Administration
List of successive mayorsList of Mayors of France From To Name 1835 1839 Jacquet-Létaudin 1890 Augustin Prosper Bablot 1891 1899 Louis Félix Oudard 1906 Cyrille Sophrone Laloua 1907 1912 Ernest René Gautier Collard Georges Notret 1965 Albert Musset 1965 1987 Daniel Godard 1987 2003 Hubert Laloua 2003 2014 Jean-Marie Godart 2014 2020 Gilles Gossart 2020 2026 Jean-Luc Galichet
Demographics The inhabitants of the commune are known as Bussinais (masculine) and Bussinaises (feminine) in French.Le nom des habitants du 51 - Marne, habitants.fr
Economy Most of the inhabitants of the village derive their income from intensive agriculture (wheat, barley, canola, peas, alfalfa, beets, potatoes, carrots, and, in the past, tobacco, corn, sunflower, lentils...). There are also some cattle. A local vegetable called the Boulette de Bussy (Bussy dumpling),Boulette de Bussy website is a variety of turnip known for its finesse and cooked notably at the starred restaurant "Les Crayères" in Reims.
It is possible to stay in Bussy-le-Château in a guesthouse.
There are no shops.
Local culture and heritage Cultural events and festivals The Village Festival takes place the weekend after Saint-Luc on 18 October. There are traditionally some fairground rides and the Suippes band interprets a variety of works from classical to contemporary.
A cyclo-cross race "bike and run" has taken place every year since 2009 in May organized by La Pédale Suippase. It has been increasingly successful over time. Its course passes through the village along some tumuli and crosses the river: it may be performed in its entirety almost all year round.
Sites and monuments The commune has five Tumuli on its territory including three which are relatively intact in a line along the river. Two of the Tumuli are registered as historical monuments.Ministry of Culture, Mérimée Ministry of Culture, Mérimée
Their names are:Pierre-Hilaire Létaudin Historical study of La Cheppe, Attila's Camp and its surroundings, Châlons-sur-Marne, 1869 Lebel: east of the Chateau Tholengo La Grosse Tour: A larger tumulus built by the Romans, it was purchased on 5 December 1863 on behalf of the department as a historical monument commemorating the battle of Mauriac (at La Cheppe) where Attila was defeated by the allied Roman army in 451. La Petite Tour: Built by the Visigoths who were seconded by the Alani and who had contributed most to the deliverance of the country La Voisaiterie: Partly destroyed and lacking history Le Châtel: A larger tumulus built by the Burgundians. A windmill was built in the middle of its flattened cone (with, it is said, stones from the castle of which no trace remains) and is still visible despite the vegetation that has invaded. It was on this mound that a ritual was held on Easter day by men of the village and youth in general who came out of Mass and drank an entire bottle of red wine in Roman style (i.e. without the neck touching the lips) in one go then tried to break the bottle by throwing it down the hill, on the soft earth of the lane. The game is very simple and could be tried several times, ascending and descending the hill, more for the alcohol rather than success in the game. The game was ended after the Ponts-et-Chaussées had the excuse of a deterioration of the roadway to have it banned.A. Guillemot, Tales, legends, old customs of Marne: The Massacre of bottles on the "tower" of Bussy-Le-Château
To the east of the tumuli are the remains of an ancient castle.
The oldest oratory identified in the Marne is in Bussy-le-Château on the western outskirts of the village. Dedicated to Saint Nicolas, an inscription reads: "to the glory of God restored through the efforts of Jacquet-Létaudin Mayor of Bussy and Bablot-Jacquet his son in 1835".
There was a military cemetery after the First World War with of hundreds of soldiers' graves in the street now called now "Rue du Rouillon". The graves were transferred to Sommepy-Tahure in the 1950s.
The 294th Infantry Regiment made a passage through Bussy-le-Château.
The commune has no shops although in the past there were a butcher shop, a bakery and several cafes. The elementary school, which was located in Bussy-le-Château Town Hall, has been closed since 2005: children go to school in the communal group school in Saint-Remy-sur-Bussy. The football field is now a cultivated field. There were Masses once a week in the church in the 19th century but there have been none since the death of the last parish priest, Father Jean Colmart.
Historical aerial views of Bussy-le-Château
Notable people linked to the commune Guermond (or Germond) de Châtillon, Lord of Bussy-le-Château, died around 1142, husband of Clémence de Roucy (born around 1125, died before 1170) Guermond (or Germond) II de Châtillon, Châtelain of Bussy, married Sibylle in 1172 Jean de Saulx, Lord of Bussy-le-Château (born around 1330, died after 1380), also Lord of Cernon and Captain of Sainte-Menehould Alice de Chalon, Lady of Bussy, circa 1400–1457 Jean IV d'Amboise, born around 1440, died on 18 April 1516, the origin of the family branch of Bussy d'Amboise. Jacques d'Amboise, Lord of Bussy, son of Jean IV d'Amboise. Died at the beginning of the 16th century in the Italian wars. Jean d'Amboise, Lord of Bussy, father of Renée d'Amboise and Jacques d'Amboise Louis d'Amboise, Lord of Bussy (1549–1579), great-grandson of Jean IV d'Amboise Jacques d'Amboise, Lord of Bussy Renée d'Amboise, Lady of Bussy, mother of Jacques de Clermont-d'Amboise Jacques de Clermont-d'Amboise, born around 1525, died in 1587.
The Bussy-d'Amboise family branch died out on 12 May 1626.
Charles d'Amboise, son of Georges d'Amboise and Lucrèce Castel san Nazarre, youngest son of Jacques d'Amboise and Catherine Beaunau. He married Jeanne de Montluc, his cousin and had a son, Henry, Baron of Bussy le Château, who was killed in a duel in the Royal Palace in 1637. Antoine-François de Lameth, Marquis of Bussy Louis Claude-François de Châtillon, Squire, Lord of the bans of Souaitre and Bussy, Canon of ReimsCatalogue of gentlemen of Champagne. Bailiwick of Chalons-sur-Marne. Minutes of the Special Assembly of the Nobility, 13 March 1789