Under the cellar vaults
ⓒRebecca Bugge, All Rights Reserved
Do not use without permission.
(Originally uploaded to Flickr in May 2011.)
The medieval aspect of this Renaissance castle of Fontaine-Henry becomes very apparent in the cellar.
The castle was built by the family d'Harcourt and it took nearly a hundred years to finish it (hence it's mainly a Renaissance building, finished in 1560, but it has some details that are in the Gothic style known as Flamboyant). There was actually a fortress built here already in the 11th century and in the beginning of the 13th century this was replaced by a castle (which might explain why it next to the current castle stands a very medieval chapel).
The castle is still owned by people who are direct descendants of the family who first started building this castle - though the surname has sometimes changed and the current owners carry the name d’Oilliamson - since it a few times was inherited by women. The house is still privately owned, but the interior can be visited on guided tours (no photography allowed, though - except the basement).
Under the cellar vaults
ⓒRebecca Bugge, All Rights Reserved
Do not use without permission.
(Originally uploaded to Flickr in May 2011.)
The medieval aspect of this Renaissance castle of Fontaine-Henry becomes very apparent in the cellar.
The castle was built by the family d'Harcourt and it took nearly a hundred years to finish it (hence it's mainly a Renaissance building, finished in 1560, but it has some details that are in the Gothic style known as Flamboyant). There was actually a fortress built here already in the 11th century and in the beginning of the 13th century this was replaced by a castle (which might explain why it next to the current castle stands a very medieval chapel).
The castle is still owned by people who are direct descendants of the family who first started building this castle - though the surname has sometimes changed and the current owners carry the name d’Oilliamson - since it a few times was inherited by women. The house is still privately owned, but the interior can be visited on guided tours (no photography allowed, though - except the basement).