Château de Sceaux, France

Château de Sceaux

image: http://islandgirl4ever2.blogspot.com

 

The Château de Sceaux is situated not far from Paris in Sceaux, Hauts-de-Seine. It is very popular among the locals as a place to escape from the crowds, to relax, have a stroll or a picnic. It’s only 10km away from the city of Paris.

Château de Sceaux, cascades

Château de Sceaux, the park

image source: janettravels

The present Château was in the beginning built as a mansion for the family of Potier des Gesvres in the 15^th century. After that it was sold to Jean Baptiste Colbert, the King Louis XIV’s minister of finance, in 1670. He used the services of some the royal architects and craftsmen, such as Claude and Charles Perrault and Antoine Lepautre, in order to turn the building into a château that suits him.

Château de Sceaux, cascades

Château de Sceaux, cascades

image source:janettravels



In 1683 his son Jean Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Seigneley, who was also Minister of the Navy inherited Sceaux. He excavated the terraces and added some statues. After that Andre le Notre / who also designed the gardens of Château de Versailles/ designed the main axis and the other two secondary axis and all the descending series of terraces that flow down and fill the octagonal basin.

Château de Sceaux, the park

Château de Sceaux, the cascades

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The Orangerie was built by the architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart and inaugurated by the King at a fete in 1685. Later in 1699, the château de Sceaux was sold to Louis’s illegitimate son, the Duc du Maine. It was however his wife, Anne, the dutchess du Maine that turned it into a salon where she hosted many fetes and receptions with famous musicians. The salon at Sceaux was favourite place for the young Voltaire. She has also the pavilion of the Menagerie built. Only the foundations had left, however.

Château de Sceaux

image: http://islandgirl4ever2.blogspot.com


Later, during the French Revolution Château de Sceaux was confiscated and many objects were sold. M. Lecomte, merchant of Saint-Malo purchased the place. He demolished the original château and can you imagine – crops were grown on Le Notre’s Terraces.

Château de Sceaux, masks by Rodin at the cascades

Château de Sceaux

The duc de Trevise,  who married M. Lecomte’s daughter inherited the Château de Sceaux. He restored the park, the pavilion and the Orangerie. He had the architect Augustin Théophile Quantinet to design the château and Joseph-Michel Le Soufaché to build it between the years of 1856-62.


The heiress of Trevise, the Princess de Faucigny-Cystra planned to give the Château to property developers in 1922, though the mayor succeeded in protecting it and opened it to public.

The Best and Most Popular Chateaux in France Part 1

Chateau de Versailles - Palace of Versailles

Palace of Versailles, Chateau de Versailles

Palace of Versailles, Chateau de Versailles

Palace of Versailles, Chateau de Versailles, Hall of mirrors

Palace of Versailles, Chateau de Versailles

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Les Jardins du Versailles, Gardens of Versailles

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Chateau de Chambord - Chambord Palace

Chateau de Chambord - Chambord Palace

Chateau de Chambord - Chambord Palace

Chateau de Chambord - Chambord Palace

Chateau de Chambord - Chambord Palace

Eglise de Chambord, The Church of Chambord

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Chateau d'Amboise - Amboise castle

Chateau d'Amboise - Amboise castle

Chateau d'Amboise - Amboise castle, gardens

Chateau d'Amboise - Amboise castle

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The Royal Chateau de Versailles - Palace of Versailles, France - facts and photos

Palace of Versailles, Chateau de Versailles, is located in the Ile-de-France region of France. Nowadays Versailles is a suburb of Paris, 20 km from the city. So, if you're in the area, you can visit the place. Don't miss it. Palace of Versailles have to be seen.

Chateau de Versailles, France

Gardens of Versailles, France

Garden view, Palace of Versailles, France

Originally, there was built a hunting lodge for Louis XIII in 1624. He was pleased with the nature and location. Back then Versailles was a county village which started to develop thanks to its location on the road from Paris to Normandy. The successor of Louis XIII - Louis XIV ordered renovation and expansion of the chateau. And....later, in 1682 the court was officially moved there. It became the centre of political power. But, the Royal family had to return to Paris after the beginning of the French Revolution. The Palace of Versailles became a symbol of the Absolute Monarchie. 

Fountain, Gardens of Versailles, France

Gardens of Versailles, France

Fountain of Neptune, Palace of Versailles, France

Bronze Sculpture of La Seine, Chateau de Versailles, France

There were four building campaigns. The all four corresponded to Louis XIV's wars. During the first building campaigh were made some modifications to the chateau and the gardens so they can accomodate 600 guests. The second made the palace look a lot like it is today. Then were built the Appartment of the roi and the Apartment of the queen. In the thitd campaign in addition to the Hall of Mirrors were designed the Orangerie and the north and south wings. The Gardens were also further developed. The fourth campaign was mostly about the Royal chapel and some improvements of the Apartment of the king. With this all constructions stopped. No more actions were taken of the Sun King / Louis the Great/.

Thirty years later Louis XIV made some changes, but they were far more unsignificant in comparison to these made of the Sun King.

Chateau de Versailles, France

Fountain, Gardens of Versailles, France

Hall of mirrors, Palace of Versailles, France

Ceiling, Palace of Versailles, France

Palace of Versailles, inside, suite, France

Palace of Versailles, inside, France

Main features of Palace of Versailles:

- Grand apartments - Apartment of the King, Apartment of the Queen

  

  Apartment of the King:

• Salon de Diane 
• Salon de Mars 
• Salon de Mercure 
• Salon d’Apollon 
• Salon de Jupiter 
• Salon de Saturne 
• Salon de Vénus

   Apartment of the Queen:

• Chapel 
• Salle de gardes 
• Antichambre
• Chambre 
• Grand cabinet 
• Oratory 
• Petit cabinet

- Small apartments - Apartment of the King, Apatrment of the Queen

- Hall of Mirrors

- Chapels of Versailles

- The Opera

- Museum of the History of France

- Gardens of Versailles

The Gardens of Versailles, France

Chateau de Versailles, France

Versaille - looking from the Latone Fountain out to the Grand Canal, France

Le Hameau de la Reine, Petit Trianon, Versailles, France