New Ground castle

Work of a poet and of an artist, the Château of New Ground is a remarkable building of the Renaissance located at Fontenay-the-Count. He is the witness of the economic and intellectual radiation of the Low-Poitou).

Origin of the castle

The Castle was built in 1580 by the architect Jean Morisson for Nicolas Rapin, comrade in arms of Henri IV and writer. The building is the second castle of the town of Fontenay-the-Count. The first, a strong castle, will be dismantled a few years later. It one of the masterpieces of the city, is built during its economic and intellectual apogee, François Ier having qualified it " Fountain and spouting spring of Beautiful Esprits".

Nicolas Painter not leaving any heir to his death, the castle is repurchased by the missionaries Lazaristes. With the XIXe century, the Count of Vassé, at the time mayor of Fontenay-the-Count acquires of the residence. His/her small son, Octave of Rochebrune, will inherit and be at the origin of the transformation of the castle.

Arrival of Octave of Rochebrune

From 1850, the building becomes the property of Octave of Rochebrune. Aquafortiste of talent, it will bring back to the castle New Earth of many remarkable architectural parts which will superbly supplement the residence of the late poet.

He will bring back in particular architectural elements of the Château Coulonges-the-Royal (called Coulonges-on-the Autize nowadays), of the woodworks of the Château of Chambord.

The girl of the aquafortist, Elisabeth de Rochebrune, will inherit the castle to dead of her father. She will marry the Count Raoul of Fontenioux whose descendants live today still the castle from now on opened to the visitors.

Famous hosts of the castle

The residence of the poet accommodated many scholars with the passing of years. Thus, Nicolas Rapin invited there the Duc of Sully, Agrippa of Aubigné, François Viète, Jacques of Fouilloux, André Tiraqueau with many recoveries.

The famous writer Georges Simenon lived the castle of 1940 to 1943 and his/her friend painter Maurice de Vlaminck returned several times to him visits.

Remarkable architectural elements

The building consists of two bodies of buildings at right angles, each end of the square being flanked watch towers. The building opens on a finished terrace of a driving staircase to the park of the castle.

  • the woodworks of the large living room come from the Château of Chambord

  • a pediment used like decoration at the time the first of the " Middle-class man gentilhomme"
  • a decorated alchemical chimney of alchemical symbols and summarizing the great phases which govern the realization of the philosopher stone.
  • its coffered ceilings
  • the door of the study of king François 1st

Opening to the public

The castle from now on is opened to the public of the 1/05 to the 30/09, the every day of 9:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 19:00. 

New Ground castle
rue Jarnigande
85200 Fontenay- the-Count
 
 
such 02 51 69 17 75
such 02 51 69 99 41

Sources

Random links:War memorial of the Army of the East and the remote grounds | Crepitus | Piégut | Confession of faith of the Assemblies of God of France | Canton of Bazoches-on-Hoëne | Règles_de_la_guerre_professionnelle