Château de Valençay

The first signs we have of the existence of a building on the site of the Chateau de Valencay dates from the Gallo-Roman time. However, the construction of an actual castle only dates from the 13th century and it is in the 17th and 18th centuries that the castle was built as it is now. The Chateau de Valencay became famous in 1803, when Napoleon ordered Talleyrand to buy it. It was then restored and improved by its new owner. The castle became the place of residence of the politician and was destined to house the diplomats and the international elites.

A few years later, Ferdinand VII of Spain and his relatives were put under house arrest there after Napoleon set his brother on the Spanish throne. The episode lasted from 1808 until 1813. During World War 2, the castle escaped from destruction thanks to the effort of the owner. It was listed as a French historical monument in 1975. Today, the castle houses a collection of Empire and Louis XVI style furniture. The castle is an attraction for families and offers children many activities such as a maze, a small farm and a big playground. The parents can do the audio tour and discover the apartments of Talleyrand, Minister under Napoleon Bonaparte. Photo credit: Jean-Christophe BENOIST, licence CC-BY-SA-3.0