Guided tour of Mesnil-Voysin Castle in Bouray-sur-Juine
Guided tour of Mesnil-Voysin Castle in Bouray-sur-Juine
17 et 18 septembre 2022Passat
F. MARTIN
The castle was built between 1632 and 1635 under the reign of Louis XIII while retaining the Henri IV style. It is built of sandstone of the country. François Mansart would have been the architect and Claude Cornuel the designer.
The common courtyard serves the orangery, kitchens, sheds and workshops, the fruit tree and the bread oven.
The chapel dates from 1611 and was erected by Renée Sabathier, its roof is hull. A crypt served as burial for many lords:
- Sabathier Family
- Family of Rouge
- Choiseul-Praslin family
- Family of Polignac
The dovecote: in the centre of the courtyard, it is topped with a pepper pot. It has 3,500 bowls (interior nest boxes), a splendid frame and a movable height. Pigeon droppings were collected as fertilizer for the vegetable garden.
The park, in the 17th and 18th centuries, was designed by Le Notre. It comprised 175 hectares; only 42 remain. It is surrounded by a stone wall of the country.
The dry moat protected access to the castle. A drawbridge would even have been built.
The course of the Juine was diverted to supply the body of water, canals and fountains.
The seigneurial domain consisted of three farms: - Ferme du Petit-Mesnil
- La Grande Ferme
- La Petite Ferme
The God of Bouray was found in 1815 in the water room of the park of Mesnil-Voysin. He is of all exhibitions on Celtic art. The banks of the Jew were a place of pagan worship.
The tower of Pocancy is a factory: it was built by the Marquis of Brogglie to contemplate the estate.
Gathering for the visit next to the bread oven. A sign with departure times will be on site. Duration of the visit: about 30 minutes. Attention all the castle is not visited (private property). You will visit the bread oven, the loft with mobile denichoir, the chapel, the large green room.