Château d'Ételan, Saint-Maurice-d'Ételan, France

In 1494 Louis Picart, magistrate of Troyes and Tournaisis, friend and chamberlain of King Louis XII with whom he went to Italy, undertook the construction of the Château d'Ételan. It was built on the site of a fortress which has been destroyed under the order of Louis XI. Of the medieval construction, only the cellar, the castle wall and the guard house dating from 1350 remain.

The castle was later converted to a 15th-century flamboyant gothic mansion. The building consists of two dwellings built from layers of bricks and stones and joined together by a magnificent stone staircase dating from the first Renaissance. As integral part of the main building, the Chapel, dedicated to Mary Magdalene, include stained glass windows, wall paintings and statues which characterised the first Norman Renaissance.

History or legend tells us that several kings and famous people have spent time at Ételan like Louis XI, Frans I, Catherine de' Medici, Charles IX with the future kings Henry III and Henry IV and later Voltaire (1723–1724).

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Château d'Ételan

User Reviews

Christopher Daly (3 years ago)
Come learn about this beautiful chateau and the wonderful family that has been restoring it. Their passion for this property is equal only to the beauty and rich history of it.

Kathie H (3 years ago)
Charming Chateau and even nicer hosts.

Michael McLeod (6 years ago)
It was absolutely beautiful. Sits on a hill overlooking the French country side

Linda Boerner (6 years ago)
I loved everything about the visit. The family members were present to visit with us.

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Sigmaringen Castle

Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.

The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.

These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.

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