Château de Maintenon and the Whims of Louis XIV
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Maintenon is an ideal day trip from Paris. It is less than an hour by train from Paris’s Gare Montparnasse, and provides all the mix of nature, culture and history one might seek on a short break away from the city.
The stunning Château de Maintenon is the most famous landmark here. With strong Renaissance influences, the chateau played an important role in French history. What’s more, one of the most remarkable treasures is hidden beyond the well-manicured gardens: the 70-meter Aqueduc de Maintenon.
The stories contained here belie the calm and sophisticated splendor of the château.
A Little History
The Château de Maintenon was once a defensive fortress, and records indicate that it can be traced back to the 13th century. Gradually the property was converted into a splendid residence fit for aristocrats, as successive occupants implemented various renovations and transformations.
Perhaps the most remarkable person to live at Château de Maintenon was Françoise d’Aubigné. She was employed as the governess to the children of King Louis XIV and his mistress, Marquise de Montespan. In 1675, on the advice of the marquise, the king paid her enough to buy the land from Jean Cottereau, and she became the Madame de Maintenon.
In 1683, she went on to marry Louis XIV in secret, pulling the Château de Maintenon from its fate as an obscure little castle into the glitz and glamour of the royal court, with the Sun King himself becoming a frequent visitor, solidifying its importance as a geographical location of royal importance.
The period after Françoise d’Aubigné’s acquisition of the château, and the subsequent marriage between her and Louis XIV, saw the Château de Maintenon transform extensively. Later owners, such as Duke Paul de Noailles, also left their mark on the property by modernizing it.
Louis XIV’s Aqueduct
King Louis XIV employed his celebrated royal gardener, André Le Nôtre, the mastermind behind the gardens of Château de Versailles, to reimagine the gardens of Château de Maintenon. The gardens you can view today have been recreated to resemble the original plans drawn up by Le Nôtre, and his stamp is unmissable: from his love for symmetry to the geometric patterns, and of course the dominance of water as a central design element.
Most importantly, as previously mentioned, there is a lesser known, yet remarkable facet of the château grounds: an aqueduct that forms a extraordinary backdrop to the gardens of Le Nôtre.
Executed by Vauban, the renowned military engineer, l’Aqueduc de Maintenon stands tall as the embodiment of Louis XIV’s whims. The reason for this feat of engineering was that Louis XIV wanted to create a system to transport the water of the River Eure to Versailles so that his famed gardens could remain beautiful all year.
Yes, though Versailles was famed for the fountains that dotted its gardens, there was actually no easy or accessible way to feed them. Louis XIV’s grand idea was that the waters of the Eure, flowing through Maintenon, could be diverted through aqueducts all the way to Versailles. We’re talking a distance of about 80 kilometers.
Work began on the aqueducts from 1685 but by 1695, there wasn’t enough money in the coffers to keep the expensive construction going. The half-completed aqueduct remains today in the Château de Maintenon as a permanent memento of one of its most glamorous, powerful, and not to mention, mercurial guests.
Visit the Château de Maintenon
In 1983, owners Monsieur and Madame Raindre, descendants of Duke Paul de Noailles, bestowed the estate to the Mansart Foundation in recognition of its historical and cultural significance. In 2005, the Foundation asked the Eure-et-Loir General Council to take over the château’s management.
A visit to the château is a chance to see magnificent art, architecture and design of a bygone era, while the gardens and the walk up to the aqueduct make the perfect setting for a leisurely walk and picnic.
Château de Maintenon is a 1.5 hour drive from Paris.
Frequent trains depart from Paris’s Gare Montparnasse to Maintenon. The journey takes less than an hour. The château is about a 20-minute walk from Maintenon station.
The château and its grounds are open to visitor every day of the week, except for Monday. The ticket price is 8,5 euros- there are discounts for minors, students and seniors.
Opening times:
1 February – 31 March
Tuesday – Friday: 2 pm – 6:30 pm
Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday: 10:30 am – 6:30 pm
1 April – 30 September
Tuesday – Sunday and bank holiday: 10:30 am to 7 pm
1 October – 18 September
Tuesday to Friday: 2 pm – 6:30 pm
Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday: 10:30 am – 6:30 pm
Lead photo credit : Chateau de Maintenon. Photo credit: Pronoti Baglary
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