Château de Menars is a historic castle on the Loire River in Menars, famously linked to Madame de Pompadour.
Built around 1646 by Guillaume Charron, the castle initially featured a main building with two pavilions. Expanded by his son Jean-Jacques Charron in 1669, it became a marquisate under Louis XIV in 1676. In 1725, Louis XV gifted the estate to Queen Marie Leszczyńska’s parents, who lived there until 1736.
Madame de Pompadour acquired the castle in 1760, commissioning Ange-Jacques Gabriel to add two new wings and several pavilions, including the Pavilion of the Clock and Pavilion of the Meridian. Interior alterations included new woodwork and subterranean connections. After Pompadour’s death in 1764, her brother, the Marquis de Marigny, continued renovations, adding French-style roofs and expanding the side court.
In 1830, Joseph, Prince de Caraman-Chimay, established a school on the estate, constructing additional buildings and a gas works.
Despite successive additions, the château retains a 17th-century simplicity. Notable features include the main building’s large gallery, ornate woodwork, and a stone staircase. The library’s mahogany dado and other elements reflect Marigny’s contributions.
Originally designed with formal parterres, canals, and avenues, the gardens were reimagined by Marigny, who added an English garden, a grotto, and various follies. He also created a terrace for displaying sculptures and enhanced the grounds with trellises, hedges, and a kitchen garden. Key features include the Rotunda of Abundance, a nymphaeum by Soufflot, and a Chinese-style kiosk by Charles De Wailly.
The Château de Menars is a harmonious blend of 17th- and 18th-century architectural and landscaping styles, reflecting its rich history.
References:Ogrodzieniec Castle is a ruined medieval castle originally built in the 14th–15th century by the W³odkowie Sulimczycy family. Established in the early 12th century, during the reign of Boles³aw III Wrymouth, the first stronghold was razed by the Tatars in 1241. In the mid-14th century a new gothic castle was built here to accommodate the Sulimczycy family. Surrounded by three high rocks, the castle was well integrated into the area. The defensive walls were built to close the circuit formed by the rocks, and a narrow opening between two of the rocks served as an entrance.
In 1470 the castle and lands were bought by the wealthy Cracovian townsmen, Ibram and Piotr Salomon. Then, Ogrodzieniec became the property of Jan Feliks Rzeszowski, the rector of Przemy¶l and the canon of Cracow. The owners of the castle about that time were also Jan and Andrzej Rzeszowskis, and later Pilecki and Che³miñski families. In 1523 the castle was bought by Jan Boner.