Château de Choisy

The Château de Choisy, also known locally as Château de Choisy-le-Roi, was a magnificent royal residence situated along the banks of the Seine in Choisy-le-Roi, within the modern-day Val-de-Marne department of France. This grand château, now mostly in ruins, once stood as a testament to the opulence and architectural brilliance of the French aristocracy. Its history is intertwined with notable figures, including the Grande Mademoiselle, cousin of King Louis XIV, the Grand Dauphin, son of Louis XIV, and Louis XV, his great-grandson.

A Château from the Grand Siècle (17th Century)

The Château de Choisy was initially brought to prominence by Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, known as the Grande Mademoiselle, around 1678. She acquired a pleasure house in Choisy for 40,000 livres and commissioned the construction of a grand château in its place, designed by Jacques IV Gabriel. The château's design and grandeur were captured in engravings by Mariette, Pérelle, and Aveline. The sculpted pediment and interior decorations were the works of Étienne Le Hongre and Charles de La Fosse. Interestingly, the ceiling of the gallery was left white as La Fosse's plan to paint it never came to fruition.

André Le Nôtre, the renowned landscape architect, was consulted for the gardens. Although he found the site somewhat dismal and recommended removing most of the existing trees to open up the view of the river, the Grande Mademoiselle chose to keep the wooded areas, as she enjoyed watching the river traffic from her chamber.

The Parterres and Gardens

The main parterre of the Château de Choisy faced the Seine, designed with a perspective that made it appear larger than it was. This clever use of space allowed for a view of the river traffic from the château, especially from the first-floor gallery. A second, larger parterre was located to the south of the château. From the Grand Cabinet on the first floor, one could see both parterres simultaneously. These gardens were adorned with flower beds featuring tuberoses and other blooms favored by the 17th-century aristocracy.

The Orangerie

The Grande Mademoiselle also commissioned a magnificent Orangerie near the entrance of the château. This south-facing building, typical of such constructions, was flanked by trellised galleries and featured a parterre with a central circular basin. The Orangerie provided a serene retreat for the princess, reminiscent of the Château de Saint-Cloud, which belonged to her cousin.

The Bosquets and Verdant Halls

The gardens of Choisy included various bosquets, or groves, with small cascades and vast flat areas planted with trees. These spaces, symmetrically arranged with straight paths, were ideal for leisurely strolls and aristocratic conversations. Notable features included the Octagon Hall near the grand basin of the vertugadin and the Chestnut Hall nearby.

Scenic Views from the Gardens

The flat terrain of Choisy required Le Nôtre to create terraces to elevate parts of the gardens, such as the vertugadin. From this elevated area at the end of the garden, visitors could enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Seine. To the right, one could see the parks of the châteaux of Villeneuve-le-Roi and Orly, and to the left, Villeneuve-Saint-Georges and its Château de Beauregard.

Monseigneur and Mme de Louvois

Upon the death of the Grande Mademoiselle in 1693, the château was inherited by Louis de France, the Grand Dauphin, who exchanged it for the Château de Meudon with Anne de Souvré, widow of Louvois. The château remained in the possession of the Le Tellier family until 1715.

18th Century Expansions

In 1716, the Château de Choisy was sold to Marie-Anne de Bourbon, the princess dowager of Conti and legitimized daughter of Louis XIV. She extended the château with a long wing facing the garden. The estate even caught the attention of Peter the Great during his visit to France. After her death in 1739, her heir sold the château to Louis XV, who renamed it Choisy-le-Roi.

Louis XV's Royal Residence

Louis XV, who enjoyed hunting in the nearby Sénart forest, made significant enhancements to the Château de Choisy. Under the direction of his chief architect, Jacques-Ange Gabriel, the central structure was expanded, and new features such as a theater, stables, an orangerie, and a bath pavilion were added. In 1754, Gabriel built the Petit Château, a private residence for the king, which housed the famous table volante that could be mechanically raised from the basement, fully set for dining.

Madame de Pompadour at Choisy

Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV's famous mistress, frequently stayed at Choisy from 1746 onwards, occupying an apartment above the king's. The château's archives and memoirs provide a glimpse into the lives of Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour, and the court during this period.

Though the Château de Choisy fell into ruin after the French Revolution and has largely disappeared, its legacy as a symbol of royal grandeur and architectural excellence endures. The remaining structures, including two pavilions from the Louis XV era, are protected as historical monuments, preserving the memory of this once splendid estate.