Bizy Castle (Château de Bizy)
About Bizy Castle (Château de Bizy)
Known as the "Versailles of Normandy," Château de Bizy is a magnificent 18th-century classical estate built in 1740 and inspired by the grandeur of Versailles. The château has an illustrious history, having been owned by the Duke of Belle-Isle (grandson of Nicolas Fouquet), King Louis XV, the Duke of Penthièvre, and King Louis-Philippe. Visitors can explore richly decorated drawing rooms featuring exquisite Louis XIV-era carved wood paneling, Gobelins tapestries, and fascinating Bonaparte family memorabilia including a marquetry table gifted by Napoleon I. The stunning 80-hectare grounds include English-style parkland with bicentennial trees, spectacular fountains (Neptune, Sea Horses, and Gribouille), an Italian garden with water staircase, French formal gardens, and magnificent 18th-century stables designed for sixty horses. The château can only be visited with a guided tour, while the park and gardens can be explored freely. Open from April to November, Tuesday to Sunday. Best visited in late spring when the fountains are running and gardens are in full bloom.
Interesting Facts
The original Chateau de Bizy was so extravagant that when the Duke of Belle-Isle hosted King Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour in September 1749, the estate's hydraulic fountains and gardens rivaled those of Versailles itself. Unfortunately, after the French Revolution, the chateau was confiscated and sold stone by stone as national property, leaving only the magnificent stables standing - the very stables that visitors see today were the only structures spared from complete destruction.
The current chateau displays six beautifully preserved 19th-century horse-drawn carriages in the original 18th-century stables, which were designed by renowned architect Pierre Contant d'Ivry to house sixty horses. These stables were so impressive that they earned Bizy its nickname 'the Versailles of Normandy' even before the main chateau existed in its current form.
The Duke of Penthievre, who owned Bizy from 1775 until his death in 1793, was known as one of the wealthiest men in Europe but devoted most of his fortune to charitable works. When he died, a contemporary newspaper wrote: 'Citizen Penthievre is dead... it was the heritage of the poor man deposited by Fortune in the hands of Virtue' - a remarkable epitaph for an aristocrat during the Revolution.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Ticket Prices
General Admission
RecommendedFamily Package
Family Ticket2 adults + 2 children (7-17 years)
Location & Practical Info
Address
Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 27200 Vernon, France
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