Castle Tour
Newfoundland Castle – Cultural Tours Description : The Château de Terre-Neuve captivates with its majestic architecture and rich history. Its L -shaped façade, bathed in light throughout the day, reveals the beauty of the Charente stone contrasting with the deep blue of the slate. A…
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Newfoundland Castle
Fontenay le Comte
Description
Newfoundland Castle – Cultural Tours
Description :
The Château de Terre-Neuve captivates with its majestic architecture and rich history. Its L -shaped façade, bathed in light throughout the day, reveals the beauty of the Charente stone contrasting with the deep blue of the slate. A distinctive feature of the façade is the nine terracotta muses , dating from the 18th century and brought from Italy, installed by Octave de Rochebrune , which add an artistic touch to the whole.
Inside, the grand salon reveals an impressive fireplace decorated with alchemical symbols , featuring gilded wooden suns that once adorned the bedroom of King Louis XIV at the Château de Chambord . The gilded wooden pediment , also from Chambord, was used for the premiere of Molière's *Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme *.
The fireplace with alchemical symbols, a precious rescue by Octave de Rochebrune from the Château de Coulonges-sur-l'Autize , illustrates the major stages of the alchemical "Great Work" , a tribute to the work of Fulcanelli , an essential reference for alchemy enthusiasts.
Finally, the dining room is a true marvel: its ceiling composed of sculpted stone coffers , the monumental fireplace known as the griffin fireplace , and the period door frame from Henri II , which houses the door to the study of King François I (also from Chambord).
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Newfoundland Castle
Fontenay le Comte , Pays de la Loire Located in the town of Fontenay-le-Comte, in the Vendée region, the Château de Terre Neuve, a listed historical monument, was built in 1580 for Nicolas Rapin, Grand Provost of the Constable of France and companion of King Henry IV. In this Renaissance gem, he entertained illustrious figures, including the Duke of Sully, Agrippa d'Aubigné, and François Viète, the renowned mathematician. In the 19th century, Terre Neuve was owned by Marquis Octave de Rochebrune, a celebrated etcher. He produced 492 engravings and was considered by some to be "the Piranesi of his time." He also undertook numerous embellishments.
Between 1940 and 1942, the famous writer Georges Simenon lived at Terre Neuve and wrote many novels there; his friend, the painter Maurice de Vlaminck, often visited him. Passed down through the female line for two hundred years, this castle has remained in the same family, and the current owner does everything possible to ensure your visit is as pleasant as possible. Visitors can admire masterpieces of painting, furniture, collections, and period clothing from the 17th and 18th centuries.
