By Château de Bouges
Château of Bouges
Architecture
The Château of Bouges is often likened to the Petit Trianon. The building is certainly typical of that era with its taste for neo-classicism. To this day, its architect’s name is unknown.
Perspective sur la façade ouest depuis le buffet d'eauChâteau de Bouges
The château’s façades are highly structured. On its broad frontages, three rows of three windows give an idea of the interior layout. The central part, which protrudes slightly, is even more outstanding because of the balcony on the first floor.
Vue d'ensemble de la façade Est et de la cour d'honneur depuis la grille d'entréeChâteau de Bouges
The château is built of tufaceous stone whose colors change with the weather. At sunrise, the stone looks sparkling white.
Façade ouest au couché du soleilChâteau de Bouges
At sunset, it takes on a golden hue.
Fronton de la façade EstChâteau de Bouges
The east front shows a few traces of Leblanc de Mamaval who was the inspiration for the château’s construction.
Façade nord, noir et blancChâteau de Bouges
The north and south façades are narrower with only five windows on each level. This photograph, taken in the 1970s, shows how small the box and yew trees were then.
Cour des communsChâteau de Bouges
The architecture of the service courtyard, situated at a lower level to the south of the château, is different with its “Mansart style” roofs. On the west side, the orangery faces the courtyard. To the north, the building accommodating the stables and saddle rooms separates the château from the main farm building.
Façade sud vue des communsChâteau de Bouges
The view from the service courtyard shows the entrance to the basement, a third floor intended only for the château’s practical operation.
Interior decoration
The interior decoration, although completely redone by the last owners, retains traces of various eras and of how life was lived in the château.
Le hall d'honneur, dessus de porteChâteau de Bouges
There is little sign of the original decoration in the entrance hall. The four ladies’ profiles surmounting the doors are an example of how the building was decorated to look antique.
Puits de lumièreChâteau de Bouges
However, although they give the impression of an ancient atrium, the light well and the balusters are not original.
The wrought iron balusters, torn up during the Revolution, have been replaced by wood painted to look like stone.
In the late 19th century, glazing replaced the lantern of which we have no real representation.
La salle de jeuxChâteau de Bouges
Light plays an important role in the château. Its large windows and its suite of three halls on the ground floor give it an open and transparent appearance.
La chambre d'honneurChâteau de Bouges
The master bedroom, the only one on the ground floor, shows the refined atmosphere which Mr and Mrs Viguier desired for their home.
La salle à mangerChâteau de Bouges
The dining room can accommodate about thirty people at the central table with its twelve legs and sixteen extensions.
The château contains many pictorial representations of hunting.
Le cabinet de travailChâteau de Bouges
The waxed woodwork of Mr Viguier’s study sets the tone of the room, decorated in a style appropriate for the head of the household.
Salon bibliothèqueChâteau de Bouges
The atmosphere of the library is warmer and cozier. It is one of the principal ways in which the château was altered. The ceilings of the smaller back rooms were lowered to make them warmer. This resulted in mezzanines where the servants were accommodated.
La salle de bain de MadameChâteau de Bouges
The alterations made by the last owners include bathrooms luxuriously equipped in the style of the 1930s
This virtual exhibition has been put together by teams from the Centre des monuments nationaux, with the help of teams from the Château de Bouges, the support of teams from the images unit and coordination by the digital unit.
The images were taken from Regards - Banque d’images des monuments © Centre des monuments nationaux.
