Beauregard Things to Do Tips by hquittner

Before Visiting the Gardens See the Kitchen

The kitchen is open to view. Here there is a large collection of copper pots and baking molds as wellas a table full of other utensils. There are two large fireplaces. Nearby outside one can see the ancient elegant stables. Finally it is time for the gardens.

More Sights In the Galleries

Most of the floors in the galleries is covered by a 16C Army of different figures in various military uniforms either on foot or on horse. We have seen a few other similar Dutchwork with different figures on other museum wall and and we always admire them and have been able to buy a bunch plainer one 30 years ago, but only one is extensively figured. They are a cherished possession. The ceilings are beamed and in the panels are scenes by Jean Mosnier. The other rooms contain much fine 17C furniture.

The First Political Picture Gallery

The idea of collecting and presenting a large number of pictures of politically important people in a single gallery is the idea of Paul Ardie, head of the exchequer and owner of Beauregard during the reign of Louis XIII. The pictures are essentially all copies specially made for him and for which he tried to get the most correct sources. As visitors with little exposure to the details of French History we could only recognize a few foreigners like Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn or Suleiman the Magnificent. We would have liked to have bought a pamphlet or even a book with information to enhance our visit. There were mid-size copies of famous French kings.

Different Exhibits Inside the Chateau

The interior of the chateau has a number of things of great interest. The main attraction is the 14-16C picture gallery made up of paintings of politically prominent figures of those times. But first one should look at the exquisite study next to the library. This was done by Scibec de Carpi , the finest creator of interiors, borrowed from Fontainebleau by Thiers, for six months (other work that was done by dell'Abbate has disappeared). The paneled walls are topped by a ceiling that holds a spectacular central coat of arms with an azure field with spherical golden bells. This is a study similar to only a few others seen both nearby and in Italy. The other rooms have fine 17C furnishings. In 1992 Gilles Clement began a restoration of the gardens.

A Fine Chateau Very Near Blois

Like many other chateaux, Beauregard was rebuilt on older foundations by the humanist Jean de Thier, Secretary of State to Henri II. It was a fine building and remains so today even if one lateral wing has been removed and the dormer windows have been modified. The inner main facade has a 5 arched gallery at the ground level and three large windows on the first floor. There are ornamental gardens, vineyards and grounds which the present owners have worked to restore and there are some original out buildings.