The fashionable hunts of the Ferrières estate, the château’s comfort and luxury, and the wealth of the Rothschild collections, dazzled high society for a century.
In 1829, James de Rothschild, the founder of the French branch of the family, acquired 3,000 hectares of fields and woodland formerly belonging to the Fouché estates.
He built a château that was to reflect the glory of his family fortunes and would be a suitable setting for great receptions. The English architect Joseph Paxton met these wishes by constructing a huge quadrilateral edifice with square towers and a vast hall lit by overhead roof windows.
The château was completed in 1859. Interior decoration was supervised by the Baroness, and the work was done by Eugène Lami. The high spot of 1862 was the visit by Emperor Napoleon III in December, when high society witnessed him plant a commemorative sequoia.
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
The building is a second Empire interpretation of Italian Renaissance architecture, with balusters and colonnades running across the facade, which opens onto the superb English gardens.
The great entrance door bears the initials ‘J.R’ of Baron James, above the family crest: five arrows symbolising the branches of the Rothschild family.
A beautiful double ceremonial staircase leads to the central hall which takes up two floors and has overhead light from a central skylight.
The hall leads to salons, one of which is an extraordinary Louis XVI salon with a ceiling after Boucher and rosy white woodwork, a tribute to Eugène Lami’s talent.
The view from the terrace includes the lake and most of the park.
|
|
