Chateau d'Anet
Chateau d'Anet
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About Chateau d'Anet
Add to favoritesBuilt by the architect Philibert de l'Orme for Diane de Poitiers, the favorite of Henry II, the Château d'Anet is a manifesto of the French Renaissance. Although much of the château was destroyed during the Revolution, what remains is exquisitely refined. The entrance gate, surmounted by a monumental clock featuring a stag and hounds, is one of the most famous in France. The château was conceived as a temple dedicated to the goddess Diana, blending classical symbols with aristocratic elegance. The highlight of the visit is Diane de Poitiers's funerary chapel, a masterpiece of proportion and light with its trompe-l'œil coffered dome. Inside the main building, one can admire mementos of the favorite, period furniture, and rare tapestries. The garden vista, though reduced compared to the original design, retains the geometric harmony that defines the classical spirit. It is a place imbued with melancholy and a very feminine beauty.
Tip for an even more exceptional visit.
Look closely at the monograms on the walls: the "H" of Henry II and the two intertwined "D"s of Diana form a pattern that resembles an "H" and a "C" (for Catherine de Medici, the legitimate wife), a deliberate and audacious ambiguity of the time.
2 Key Dates
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square_foot
1544
Diane de Poitiers commissioned Philibert Delorme to build a castle that was a manifesto of classical French architecture, a masterpiece of balance.
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castle
1793
The castle was seized as national property and partially dismantled. Its famous Diana fountain was saved and sent to the Louvre.
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