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A fortified castle that was once a royal residence, restored and often animated, one of the must-see places in the Yvelines
After the Provost of Paris, Jehan Bernier, was appointed "sovereign informant of the Waters and Forests of the kingdom" by Charles V, he had to settle in Rambouillet, and in 1368 acquired a modest manor house, which he transformed into a fortified castle. Under the d'Angennes families, the estate was enlarged, and the château welcomed François I, François II and Marie Stuart, Catherine de Médicis, Charles IX, the Duc de Guise, Henri II and Henri IV. At the end of the 18th century, Louis XVI bought Rambouillet and invited Marie-Antoinette to visit: the King commissioned the architect Jacques-Jean Thevenin to build a dairy, where the Queen could taste the cheeses from the nearby farm, where Louis XVI had introduced Merino sheep purchased in Spain. In 1804, Napoleon I decided to restore the dilapidated monument, along with its garden and hydraulic system, where Empress Marie-Louise took refuge ten years later. The château was successively home to Louis XVIII and Charles X, and, while not of interest to Louis-Philippe, was occupied by various tenants between 1834 and 1852 - when Napoleon III reinstated the estate to the civil list, without actually residing there. In 1896, it became the summer and hunting residence of the French presidents. Today, the estate is a must-see in Yvelines, and indeed in the whole of the Paris region. Regularly animated, it has undergone extensive restoration work, enabling it to regain its incredible lustre. A must-see when visiting Rambouillet!
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Members' reviews on RAMBOUILLET CASTLE
Un très beau château à visiter avec une grande histoire.
À la fois une demeure royale, impériale et présidentielle.
Il s’agit d’une ancienne forteresse médiévale, le château de Rambouillet est peu à peu transformé en demeure de plaisance et agrémenté d’élégants décors par ses illustres propriétaires.
Les espaces dévoilés aux visiteurs témoignent de cette riche histoire : devenu lieu d’expositions, l’appartement d’apparat de la famille des Bourbon-Penthièvre offre au regard du visiteur un élégant décor de boiseries rocailles des années 1730. Puis au détour des couloirs, la salle à manger des présidents rappelle la place du monument dans notre histoire contemporaine avec la reconstitution de la table dressée en 1975 à l’occasion de la réunion du premier G6.
Grand parc à parcourir.