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Chateau de Valencay

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Centre-Val-de-Loire

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Chateau de Valencay

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About Chateau de Valencay

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The Château de Valençay is located in the commune of Valençay in the Indre department. Its architecture is reminiscent of the Château de Chambord. The estate, along with its formal French gardens and English landscape park, is listed as a historical monument. Blending Renaissance and Classical styles, Valençay embodies elegance with its precious collections, paintings, objets d'art, and majestic furnishings. A unique place that will enchant visitors.

Tip for an even more exceptional visit.

The Château de Valençay is best visited as a place of power and diplomacy rather than simply as a stately residence: the former home of Talleyrand, it reveals the inner workings of European politics under Napoleon. The trick is to wander through the salons imagining the negotiations that took place there—each room becomes a “diplomatic office” disguised as an elegant drawing room. Pay attention to the richly furnished apartments, the portraits, and the official objects, then finish with the terraces and the formal French garden to understand how the landscape also served to impress foreign guests. It’s a more “cerebral” visit than a spectacular one, perfect if you enjoy history and political intrigue.

5 Key Dates

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1540

The Renaissance architect Jacques d’Estampes initiated the construction of a modern residence on the foundations of an old fortress. The magnificent keep and west wing, inspired by the style of the Loire Valley châteaux, were built there.
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1770

The classic addition The estate passed through several hands, including those of the tax farmer Legendre de Villemorien, who had the south wing and colonnade built to give the castle its current classical appearance.
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1803

Napoleon I forced his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, to buy the castle to receive foreign dignitaries. The Emperor financed part of the purchase.
NAPOLEON
castle
1808

The gilded cage of the Princes of Spain: Napoleon placed the deposed King of Spain, Ferdinand VII, his family, and his court under house arrest there. For six years, Valençay became a luxurious cage where Talleyrand displayed all the art of French living to entertain the captives.
NAPOLEON
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1940

A refuge for the Louvre. Just like Chambord, Valençay served as a storage facility for Louvre artworks during the Second World War. It was here that the famous Venus de Milo was taken to safety.