Carrouges Castle

16C-cha?teau de carrouges EN:092006•PANTHEON_franc?ais 21/02/08 16:56 Page 1 History Visit Brickwork Information History Visit Brickwork Information History Visit Brickwork Information L L L English Below the terrace to the south-west there used Glossary to be a lake which was drained at the end of Carrouges the 18th century to provide grazing room for Arrow loop: a vertical slit made for shooting cattle. The “île d’Amour” with its little arrows. Néo-Typo, avril 2008. avril Néo-Typo, Castle copse can still be made out. Domino wallpaper: rectangular sheets placed 14 The gates and railings, made from wrought next to each other to form a pattern and stuck iron in the mid-17th century, came from the onto a stretched canvas. impression A family castle Carrouges forges: the main gate, south gate Gabriel: a family of architects from Argentan and balustrades. (Orne). The Carrouges builders, François and The stronghold 15 The gatehouse tower, on the way into the Maurice, worked particularly in Normandy. et cætera. Caractères estate, is considered to be the first sign of Their descendants rose to fame at Versailles. During the Hundred Renaissance architecture in Normandy. Header: layout in which the brick's thickness traduction Years’ War, the first lords Its right tower features a mitre and two stylised and width is visible on the wall face, as opposed of Carrouges built a crooks, showing the ecclesiastic rank of its to “stretcher” layout in which the thickness and beau fixe. stronghold on the border commissioner, Jean Le Veneur, bishop and count length is visible on the wall face. of Normandy and the of Lisieux until 1533. Machicolation: a stone overhanging gallery with réalisation Maine. The property later openings in the floor for missiles to be shot came to the Blosset de Saint-Pierre family by Carrouges, a brick castle downwards marriage. Ogee: a shape consisting of a concave arc Anders. Plein Sens, The manufacture of brick had been mastered flowing into a convex arc. The lordly residence since ancient times and it came into use again Stereotomy: the art of designing stones or bricks with the Renaissance in the northern half of for particular layouts. In the 15th century, Jean Blosset made his mark France. It was chosen for use at Carrouges in conception graphique by deciding to build the residence. He was the the 14th century due to the presence of clay as Practical information confidant of King Louis XI who visited in 1473. a raw material. The bricks were hand made. François Brosse. François Brosse. He made his sister, who was married to Philippe Far more than just a simple building material, Visit takes on average: 1 hour 30 minutes Le Veneur, his heiress. The Le Veneur de the colours, shapes, and use as stretcher* or Guided tours: 45 minutes illustration Tillières family owned the estate from the end header*, allowed brick to be used decoratively. Tours suitable for disabled visitors. of the 15th century until 1936. At Carrouges, the architects made effective use of them, alternating red and black bricks to The stately home decor-ate the facades. The Centre des monuments nationaux publishes a collection of guidebooks about French monuments, translated into several languages. Éditions du patrimoine publications are on sale Cardinal Jean Le Veneur was ambassador and des monuments nationaux, Paris. nationaux, des monuments in the bookshop-giftshop. chaplain to François I. He had the gatehouse Centre des monuments nationaux tower built. Catherine de Medici and her Château de Carrouges 61320 Carrouges entourage visited Tanneguy I Le Veneur in the tél. 02 33 27 20 32 castle in 1570. On the eve of the Revolution, A. Lonchampt © Centre Centre Lonchampt © A. fax 02 33 31 16 44 General Alexis Paul Michel Tanneguy came out chateau.carrouges@monuments-nationaux.fr in favour of abandoning privileges. www.monuments-nationaux.fr crédits photos The castle was listed as a historic monument in 1927. The State purchased it along with some of its furniture in 1936. *Explanations overleaf. 16C-cha?teau de carrouges EN:092006•PANTHEON_franc?ais 21/02/08 16:56 Page 4 History Visit Brickwork Information L The inner courtyard 9 The portrait room displays all the former owners of the castle. The fireplace decor still has its 2 1 The courtyard. The different stages of the original paintwork. 43 construction of the castle are visible here. The 5 10 The great hall was created in the 19th century by 14th-century keep: the massive structure still has 6 removing a partition wall, as can be seen by the parquet floors and wood panelling, and it has most of the defensive features: arrow loops* and A machicolations*. These are indicative of a strong- 1 7 small studies to one side. hold which must have had both military and resident- 12 B 8 11 The grand staircase. The landing leads to the ial uses. In the lower hall, a granite measuring ins- 9 following room. It was originally rendered and 11 trument recalls how loads were checked at fairs. 10 painted with mock brickwork which was removed The 15th-century Blosset wing still has three of during renovation work in the 1960s, revealing its original features: the ribbed door, the stair the stereotomy* of its construction. tower and a Gothic chimney stack. 12 The function room dates from the late 18th cent- Its facade was re-built when the new wings of the A Welcome desk, ury as a venue for theatre, music and dancing. Its tickets and shop height was gained by removing the second floor. castle were added. The late 16th-century “classical” B Toilets wings were built by François Gabriel. Their very The musicians’ platform is at the far end. sober facades have regular granite strips. From here, return back down to the courtyard. 4 In the corridor there are two canvases which are the remains of the 17th-century painted ceiling in The Blosset de Saint-Pierre residence The estate the next room. 5 The grand antechamber. The 15th-century fire- This residence is still laid out as it was in the 15th 13 The estate is an enclosed area of some ten place is decorated with a 16th-century falcon- century, with its two state rooms and central hall. hectares including gardens, an orchard, woods, hunting scene. The beam decorations remain from It currently has the decor added by Maurice a terrace and lawns. the sumptuous 17th-century decor for this room, Gabriel in the 17th century. The ground floor provided by Maurice Gabriel. houses the kitchen, used from the late 18th century until 1936. The tower staircase leads to the The “classical” wings first floor apartments, which were originally inter- connecting. The classical wings and the staircases leading to The passageways were altered in the 19th century them are the work of the architect François when a partition was added on the courtyard side Gabriel. which still divides the northern parlour today. 6 The square open-well staircase leads to the great 2 Louis XI’s bedroom. The king stayed here in apartments and links to the medieval residence. It 1473. The arms of the Le Veneur de Tillières still has rendering painted with mock brick and 15 family are displayed on the fireplace. 13 stonework. 3 The north hall. The small door, imposing fireplace 7 The dining hall was laid out at the end of the and the ogee* arch leading to the chapel, which 14 18th century. French windows and a walkway lead was destroyed at the end of the Ancien Regime, 13 directly to the gardens. The late 16th-century are typical of the 15th century. monumental fireplace combines Maine marble, polished granite and limestone. 8 The summer room, with no fireplace, was resto- red in 1993, with domino* wallpaper and hand- printed textiles. *Explanations overleaf..

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