More Views Of Valençay

Why the heck not? It's a pretty place! Today I'll focus on the domed towers of the "new" wing.

Now that's what I call a West Wing!

The new, or west, wing of the château was built in the 17th century and renovated in the 18th century. That said, the old wing was only built in the 16th century, replacing the original 12th century castle that stood on the site. One of the early owners of the place was the Scottish financier John Law.

It was Talleyrand, at Napoleon Bonaparte's direction, who bought the place in 1803 to entertain foreign dignitaries on behalf of the emperor.

The Two Towers.

In between the two domed towers, the roof of the building is in the Mansart style, with alternating mansard dormers and round dormers, called "oeils-de-boeuf" or bulls' eyes. This is the wing that comprises most of the interior visit, with its grand dining room, bedrooms, parlors, and, in the basement, the kitchens and wine cellar.

A dome, seen from the ground below.

The tour is self-guided with audiophones, so you can take your time and linger where you like. Ken and I have been through a few times in the past five years. The last time I don't think we rented the audiophone, and just wandered quickly through.

Talleyrand's bedroom was in this tower.

On the second floor of the domed tower shown above are a couple bedrooms, the larger of which is Talleyrand's own. The rooms in the wing itself were for other residents of the château, including the not-too-shabby bedroom where the king of Spain was imprisoned.