Tilloloy is a small rural commune in the Somme, roughly five kilometres south of Roye. Its identity is closely tied to a large historic estate, but the village is more than a château backdrop: the parish church, the rebuilt settlement and memories of the First World War belong to the same local story.
For population, Insee’s 2023 reference figures count 318 residents in the municipal population and 321 in the total population, which adds three people counted apart. The figures cover the commune of Tilloloy, use the geography dated 1 January 2025 and took legal effect on 1 January 2026. The municipality describes the place as rural and is part of the Grand Roye intercommunal community.
A documented estate and a wartime village
The château now seen began in 1645. The Ministry of Culture’s Mérimée record dates interior work to 1751–1755 and attributes it to architect Étienne-Louis Boullée; it records the change from formal French gardens to an English-style park around 1830, restoration around 1880, and rebuilding from 1932 to 1940. During the First World War the château was almost completely destroyed. Blaise Cendrars, whose regiment was stationed in the park in 1915, later referred to Tilloloy in La Main coupée. Those written and architectural records provide a firm basis for the story; they are separate from any later anecdote.
Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, the château’s former chapel and today the parish church, is a distinct monument. The Culture Ministry dates it to the sixteenth century and records its classification in 1840, earlier than the château domain’s partial classification in 1994. The château record covers a group that includes the outbuildings, monumental gates, dry moat, remains of the formal garden and a long tree-lined avenue. The estate lies across the municipal boundary with Laucourt. Because the château is privately owned and its operator advertises event hire rather than routine daily opening, do not assume that the interiors or grounds are freely accessible.
Village life and a walk through the landscape
Insee counted 12 employer establishments active at the end of 2024: six in commerce, transport and varied services, four in public services, education, health or social work, one in industry and one in construction. This is a count of employer establishments, not a complete portrait of every resident’s work. The mairie at 44 rue de Flandre is listed for Monday and Thursday evenings, 18:00–19:00; check before setting out, since small-office hours can change. Roye, nearby, provides a wider range of everyday services.
A recently updated walking route starts on Rue de Flandre and loops for about 7.1 km, estimated at two hours and five minutes. Its description leads through woodland, forest edge and open fields, with the church, château dependencies and Blaise Cendrars square as landmarks. Treat the château as a view from the route unless access has been arranged: it is private property. Check the current route map, ground conditions and any access changes before walking. Rétro C’Trop has used the estate for concerts, but dates and arrangements change; consult the organiser before planning a festival visit.
