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Château de Voisins (Louveciennes)

France · 17th century

Founded
1650
Heritage status
monument historique inscrit
Location
Louveciennes
Coordinates
48.86622°, 2.11523°
Links
Wikimedia Commons
Open on the map →Wikipedia ↗
Château de Voisins (Louveciennes) in France
Photo: ℍenry Salomé · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Description

The Château de Voisins is a neoclassical mansion located in Louveciennes, in the department of Yvelines, France. It is 8 kilometres north of Versailles, and 20 kilometres east from the centre of Paris.

The first château on the site was built between 1650 and 1675. In 1696, probably due to its proximity to Versailles, the château was bought by the Marquis de Cavoye, Grand Marshall of the household of Louis XIV. During the late 18th century, the château became the property of Louise Élisabeth de Bourbon-Condé, Princess de Conti (1693–1775). A granddaughter of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan, the princess had the château rebuilt to designs of Claude-Nicolas Ledoux. The princess is most notable as the woman who officially presented Madame de Pompadour to the court of King Louis XV at Versailles, in return for settlement of her debts by the king.

Circa 1820, a new owner, the Comte de Turtot Hocquart, finding the château old fashioned, had it remodelled. In 1857, the estate was sold again, and purchased by Charles Tavernier, who built the lodge and redesigned and landscaped the grounds. In 1874, Tavernier gave the chateau to the banker Julius Beer, who gave it to his son William. William's wife Elena created a notable literary salon there. It was at the chateau that Leconte de Lisle wrote his work La Rose de Louveciennes. The poet died while staying at the chateau's classical garden pavilion in 1894.

The mansion is designed on an "H" plan, with the two extending wings joined by an open loggia on the southern entrance facade, and on the northern garden facade by an orangery. On the eastern side is low, unobtrusive wing containing the kitchens and domestic offices. The main block is of three floors, with five principal rooms on the ground floor. The low hipped roof is concealed by a closed parapet.

Text adapted from “Château de Voisins (Louveciennes)” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

In the rankings

Château de Voisins (Louveciennes) ranks #7,260 of 9,902 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #687 of the 954 mapped in France. Founded 1650, it is older than 26% of the atlas's dated landmarks, one of 755 atlas entries founded in the 17th century. 56 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Paris, 17 km away. See how France compares in the castle statistics.

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