|
|
The Château de Chaumont is a French castle.
The first château at Chaumont-sur-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, France, originated in the 11th century, built by Eudes II, Count of Blois.
In the 15th century, the castle's owner was part of the unsuccessful rebellion against King Louis XI. As a result, the king ordered that the castle be burned and demolished. Reconstruction began in 1473 and was completed over the next dozen years.
In 1560, the castle became the property of Catherine de' Medici who entertained numerous astrologers there, including Nostradamus. On the death of her husband, King Henri II, Catherine used her power to take over the much coveted Château de Chenonceau from her husband's mistress, Diane de Poitiers. As certain legalities had to be met, Diane was forced to accept the Château de Chaumont as payment for her beloved Chenonceau. Diane de Poitiers lived at Chaumont for only a short time when the castle was sold.
Madame de Staël banned from Paris by Napoléon, lived there from April to August 1810.
In 1750, it became the property of Jacques-Donatien Le Ray. At a meeting at the Château de Chaumont, Le Ray entertained Benjamin Franklin and agreed to use his enormous wealth to help finance the American Revolutionary War. Le Ray's son James founded the town of Chaumont, New York and Le Ray, New York is named after him.
After changing hands a few times, in 1875 the Prince Amédée de Broglie completely renovated the castle but after him, several people went broke trying to maintain the property. In 1938, the government of France took it over. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction, open to the public.