Chateau de Fontaine-Française - Visits

The outside visit
From 15th May to 30th September, from 10am to 12am and 2pm to 6pm
Open every day except on tuesday
In 1754, François Boullioud de Saint-Julien, tax collector to the Clergé devFrance, ordered the construction of the present château at fontaine-Française on the site of the old forteress. The château, classed as historic Monument, is surrounded by the park consisting of 400 lime trees pruned into arches and yews pruned in the form of balls, and the monumental west-facing classical main building is reflected in a vast ornemental Lake.
As one looks toward the entrance, the formality of the edifice is softened by the aspect of the two perpendicular wings, the balconies and the "mascarons"which decorate the windows.
The inside visit
From 15th May to 30th September, from 10am to 12am and 2pm to 6pm
Open every day except on tuesday
The guarde room, the living-rooms and flats of the château testify the splendour of the Age of Enlightenment.
Up to the beginning of the 19th century, a brilliant literary salon was held here by Madame de Saint Julien, a great friend of Voltaire. Fontaine-Française was also a favourite haunt of Madame de Staël.
On Boullioud's death, the domaine was taken over by his great niece, la Marquise de la Tour du Pin, née Honorine Athénais Grimaldi, Princesse de Monaco, and several artefacts have been kept at the château in her memory.