Talcy Castle, a poetic and political monument in the heart of the Petite Beauce region

Among the buildings in the Loire Valley, Château de Talcy stands out for its astonishing sobriety. Enter the history of a rural residence destined to live a great poetic and political destiny.

Once upon a time there was Bernard Salviati

The seigneury of Talcy already existed in the 13th century, but it was Bernard Salviati who was responsible for most of the castle's current appearance. Don't know him? In 1517, this wealthy Florentine banker, who was close to the Medici family and the court of Francis I, bought the lands of Talcy, on which a modest residence now sits. Three years later, he fortified the enclosure by adding a number of medieval-inspired defensive features.

An elegant counterpoint to the Renaissance architectural style

While rich Renaissance decorations are the order of the day throughout Europe, the sobriety of Château de Talcy is the exception. Take a look: there's no marble here, and no perfect symmetry. In fact, the exterior of this former manor house in the Loir-et-Cher region looks rather rustic. But the bucolic character it has retained over the years makes it a home of peaceful charm.

The Talcy interview, or the last chance meeting

In 1562, at a time when the Wars of Religion were hitting the Loire Valley hard, the château hosted an exceptional conference. On 28 June, Catherine de Médicis joined a number of high-ranking Catholic and Protestant representatives who had gathered in Talcy for the last time. She launched an appeal for peace, which unfortunately went unheeded.

The chambers of Catherine de Médicis and Charles IX, which you can visit today, bear witness to this historic event.

A favourite meeting place for rejected poets

Sweetheart, let's go and see if the rose...

Pierre de Ronsard

Do you recognise these verses? They are those written by the poet Pierre de Ronsard for the beautiful Cassandre Salviati, Bernard's daughter. He dedicated this poem to her in 1545, after meeting her at a ball in Blois. Unfortunately, this passion was one-sided, and Cassandre married another man the following year.

Twenty-seven years later, one of the bloodiest episodes in the Wars of Religion took place with the St Bartholomew's Day massacre on 24 August 1572. The Protestant poet Théodore Agrippa d'Aubigné narrowly escaped and was welcomed to Talcy. Why here, you might ask? Because he was madly in love with Diane Salviati, Bernard's granddaughter, who spurned him. This unhappy love affair earned the Talcy estate the nickname "the castle of the muses"!

A new lease of life for a large agricultural estate

Château de Talcy has seen many owners over the years. All have left their mark. In 1718, it was the Burgeat family's turn to take up residence on these lands.

Under their influence, the rural dwelling became a vast farm. Sowing, harvesting, grape-picking, wood-cutting and grain sales were the order of the day for its occupants. At the same time, Jérémie Burgeat decided to modernise the interior of the building. While respecting the old style, he had the rooms and furniture redone in the style of the 18th century.

Find out more about the architecture of the château, from medieval times to the 18th century.

Château de Talcy - Sublime fruit gardens

The garden at Château de Talcy was laid out at the same time. No less than seven hectares had to be maintained, which was no mean feat! It is divided between a vegetable garden and an orchard, between vines and fodder crops.

Today, this magnificent garden is a collector's orchard. Apples and pears feature prominently, alongside other fruits such as plums and redcurrants. Old varieties are also grown here in trellised form. If you get the chance, come and stroll along its enchanting paths and let yourself be transported by its colours and fragrances. A true voyage for the senses, believe us!

The Stapfer family, culture and politics in Talcy

During the 19th century, this elegant property in the Loir-et-Cher region became the country residence of Philippe-Albert Stapfer. This Swiss intellectual, who had been close to French revolutionary circles in 1789, received prestigious guests here. These included Stendhal, Eugène Delacroix, Prosper Mérimée and Madame de Staël!

His son, Albert Stapfer, was the first French translator of the German poet Goethe. He was also one of the pioneers of daguerreotyping. An enthusiastic photographer, he took many pictures of Talcy castle and the surrounding area. His camera, along with several plates, are still preserved on site today.

As well as being a cultural meeting place, the site also played a major political role. In 1870, enemy troops from Prussia were advancing through the surrounding snow-covered countryside. Albert Stapfer opened the doors of his house to General Chanzy, who organised the resistance of the armies of the Loire in the large room on the ground floor.

Listed as a historic monument, Château de Talcy has belonged to the State since 1933 and is now under the management of the Centre des Monuments Nationaux. Take a stroll through this historic site, and you'll see the gate tower, the main courtyard, the guards' room, the Stapfer cabinet and General Chanzy's bedroom. Just imagine that, several decades before you, illustrious figures from France's history have also walked these grounds...