Pierrefonds castle (Oise)
Who are we at?
Pierrefonds castle belongs to the State and is managed by the Center des Monuments Nationaux.
The owner's tour
Before being the imposing medieval fortress that we know, Pierrefonds, near Compiègne, was first and without question the most attractive medieval ruin in France. Raised by Louis d'Orléans from 1390, ruined later, he was saved by the sustained attention that Napoleon III would bring him. In 1858, Viollet-le-Duc tackled the reconstruction of this enormous monument, three-quarters of which was financed by the Emperor himself. Visiting the site was one of his favorite occupations when he was staying in Compiègne.
Today, the castle which mixes reveries and erudition is a lesson of medieval architecture as much as the decoration of what was to be a feudal castle.
Sculpted woodwork, fantastic bestiary, painted decorations (as in the Salle des Preuses), the visit is not without interest.
In spite of everything, one cannot help but feel an impression of coldness and emptiness there, such as befits a fortress of this size, which in the end will never have been inhabited.
However, browsing through these rooms refers to a book of medieval images whose pages we would turn without ever ceasing to be amazed.
The environment of the site is a splendor, especially in autumn, because the castle planted on a hillock dominates the old town and a forest landscape of any beauty.
Our best memory?
The discovery of the so-called Emperor's room (he never slept there), the lintel of the mantel of which is strewn with golden bees.
Did you know ?
After the fall of the Second Empire, Empress Eugenie, whose centenary of death is being celebrated this year (several exhibitions are planned in Pierrefonds), after 1870 took the path to exile.
To go incognito and until her death in 1920, she traveled under the name of Comtesse de Pierrefonds.
Château de Pierrefonds
, rue Viollet le Duc, 60350 Pierrefonds.
Phone.
: 03 44 42 72 72.
Malmaison castle (Hauts-de-Seine)
La Malmaison, endearing home of the Empress Joséphine, whose roses were her passion.
National Museum of the castles of Malmaison and Bois Préau - 2020
Who are we at?
The domain of La Malmaison belongs to the State to which it was offered in 1904 by its last private owner, the patron Daniel Osiris Iffla.
It is managed by the Ministry of Culture.
The owner's tour
It is a walk in history, at the time of the First Empire, offered by the domain located in ... Rueil-Malmaison. Restored to its original state, the castle, home of the Empress Joséphine, has regained its decoration and furniture from the time of the repudiated wife of Napoleon I. As soon as you cross the threshold, you can feel a special atmosphere unique to a national historic monument. As if Josephine and Napoleon were going to come home from a walk any minute. The quality of the decor, to which the greatest architects and craftsmen of the Empire (Fontaine and Percier, Biennais, etc.) have harnessed themselves refers to something intimate and warm. The use of fabric to cover rooms, such as the Council room or Joséphine's bedroom, a sort of interior tent, is obviously of rare originality.
The library used by the Emperor as an office, where mahogany reigns supreme, is, along with the dining room, the Empress's boudoir (restored in 2019), of incomparable beauty, with almost bourgeois comfort.
The year 2021, which marks the bicentenary of Napoleon's death, gives all its topicality to the rooms dedicated to Saint Helena.
Of the 726 hectares of the original park, once populated by Merino sheep, kangaroos and roses… Today, only 6 hectares remain!
A concentrate of sweetness of life where the river of operetta, pavilions, rose garden and lawn blend harmoniously.
Among other curiosities, we see the famous cedar planted by Joséphine to celebrate the victory of Marengo in 1801 ...
Our best memory?
Undoubtedly the discovery of the summer pavilion, in the park, with this unique view of a castle full of charm rather than grandeur.
Did you know ?
Napoleon returned to Malmaison a year after the disappearance of the Empress Joséphine (during the 100 days) and locked himself in his room.
He came out his eyes swollen with tears.
On June 29, 1815, from Malmaison he took the path of exile which was to lead him to Saint Helena.
Château de Malmaison
, avenue du Château de la Malmaison, 92500 Rueil-Malmaison.
Breteuil castle (Yvelines)
The Château de Breteuil, its gardens and its reflecting pool.
Michel André
Who are we at?
Henri François, Marquis de Breteuil, descendant of Charles Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, who was the first of the name to occupy the castle in the 18th century.
The owner's tour
This private historical monument, a flagship of tourism in the Chevreuse valley, has come a long way. Its current owner, Henri François de Breteuil, recovered it from his father in the 1970s in a sorry state. Trees were growing in the house whose park had been promised to a real estate developer. Henri François and his wife Séverine set about diverting this crazy project and transforming the castle into a living place open to the public, inspired by what the British lords did in the 1960s.
Today, Breteuil has become an example of success in France in terms of private asset management, with nearly 150,000 visitors per year. In the castle, the furnished rooms are brought to life by wax mannequins who resuscitate its prestigious visitors, from Louis XVIII to Marcel Proust. A number of family memories and objects linked to the life of the castle in the 19th century, the time of splendor, are also presented. The kitchen found cooks, cooks and servants (of wax). In the 75-hectare park, the outbuildings are home to characters from Perrault's tales, installed in magnificent settings and superb costumes. The English garden, designed by Duchêne, the labyrinth, the Orangery and many other outbuildings make the walk enchanting. The discovery of this place is recommended with the family.Children don't get bored for a second in this
French-style Downton Abbey
...
Our best memory?
One night in one of the pavilions in the main courtyard of the castle, which can be rented (three bedrooms, living room and kitchenette).
Unforgettable (prices and availability at 01.30.52.05.11).
Did you know ?
A guest of the family, a young Englishman stayed at the Château de Breteuil for a long time from 1912 to learn French.
Her name ?
Edward, Prince of Wales… Who would become King Edward VIII, then Duke of Windsor (Elizabeth II's uncle).
He was staying in one of the two entrance pavilions.
Château de Breteuil
, 78460 Choisel.
Phone.
: 01 30 52 05 02.
Chantilly castle (Oise)
Located in the middle of the gardens of Le Nôtre, the Château de Chantilly as we can see it less .... Philippe Hamain / Oise tourisme
Who are we at?
To the Institut de France, which received it by bequest in 1897 from Henri d'Orléans, Duke of Aumale, one of the sons of Louis-Philippe I, King of the French.
The owner's tour
There is something magical when emerging from the forest coming from Chapelle-en-Serval, the Château de Chantilly emerges in a hilly clearing.
Straight out of a fairy tale, this heritage spectacle offered on one side by the castle and on the other by the Grandes Écuries du Prince de Condé, is breathtaking.
The Duke of Aumale, of which this palace in the fields was the landmark, with some 7,500 hectares around, was above all the setting for an exceptional collection of art that he assembled throughout his life.
According to his wish (requirement of his bequest) nothing should be sold, loaned, or even moved. This is why the visit to Chantilly is so special, offering the vision of a hanging as it was conceived in French museums at the end of the 19th century. It is, after the Louvre, the second most important collection of old paintings. Nothing less with some masterpieces by Raphael or Ingres. Chantilly is therefore a complete destination with an art museum (the Condé museum), gardens designed by Le Nôtre and Les Grandes Écuries, occupied by the living horse museum. A “heritage triptych” to which another prince, the Aga Khan, has breathed new life in recent years by engaging in an unprecedented restoration program, one of the largest private sponsorship operations ever carried out in France.
For all these reasons, a visit to Chantilly is a marvel, suitable for all audiences and accessible in about thirty minutes from Gare du Nord.
Our best memory?
One night at the hotel, L'Auberge du Jeu de Paume, adjoining the castle, in a room overlooking the park and the Beauvais fountain… (tel: 03.44.65.50.00; aubergedujeudepaumechantilly.fr).
Did you know ?
We owe the beauty of the Great Stables of Chantilly to Louis-Henri de Bourbon, seventh prince of Condé, who had them built in the 18th century, convinced of being reincarnated as a horse!
Château de Chantilly
, 60500 Chantilly.
Phone.
: 03 44 27 31 80.
See also
- Without resources, the Château de Chantilly calls on the State for help
The castle of Fontainebleau (Seine-et-Marne)
The Grand Parterre of Fontainebleau Jérôme Schwab
Who are we at?
The State.
Former national palace belonging to the domains of the Crown (under the old regimes), it is managed by the Ministry of Culture.
The owner's tour
Curiously, this castle built during the Renaissance, which owes a lot to François Ier, remains in the popular imagination linked to Napoleon I and to eponymous farewells (1814). The scene relayed by a famous painting by Horace Vernet takes place at the foot of the iconic horseshoe staircase. The François 1er gallery, the Henri II ballroom, the Diane gallery, the King's large apartments, the Emperor's throne room, the library of Louis-Philippe I, the imperial theater (its recent restoration will have lasted 18 months and cost 5 million euros), and the Chinese salon of Empress Eugenie, among other curiosities to visit, remind us that this palace was much loved by all our sovereigns.
Of the 1,500 rooms in the castle, 200 are open to the public.
For some time now, a Histopad (
3D virtual assistant, Editor's note
) has enabled the half a million visitors who cross the gates each year to go back in time.
The ceremonial apartments in a row are full of rich furniture, paintings and superb Savonnerie rugs rolled up wisely, to allow passage.
The park with its pond, makes the visit in spring even more bucolic.
But let's not forget that the castle, like the city of Fontainebleau, is at the heart of one of the most beautiful French forests, visited by 11 million visitors every year.
Our best memory?
A boat trip on the Carpes pond with superb views of the castle.
Did you know ?
The Château de Fontainebleau was a presidential residence until 1927, frequented among other presidents by Félix Faure and Sadi Carnot.
Château de Fontainebleau
, 77300 Fontainebleau.
Phone.
: 01 60 71 50 70.