Château d'Assier
Encyclopedia
The Château d'Assier is located in Assier
, in the Lot department of the Midi-Pyrénées
region
of south-west France
. It is an example of the diffusion of Renaissance château architecture
from the Loire Valley
into other parts of France.
under King François I
. The château was designed as a large quadrangle, 40 metres (131.2 ft) on each side, flanked by massive round towers at each corner, capped with ogival
domes.
Jeanne, only heiress of Galiot de Genouillac, married Charles de Crussol, vicomte d'Uzès (1483–1546). In 1768, their descendant, the duc d'Uzès, sold most of the château to demolition contractors, who pulled down the buildings and sold the materials. The duke retained the west wing for agricultural uses. In spite of the classification of the building as a historic monument, by Prosper Mérimée
in 1841, the agricultural use continued until the whole of the surviving building was acquired by the French state in 1934. Since 1901, when it was registered as a monument historique
, extensive restoration works have been carried out. The building is now in the care of the Centre des monuments nationaux
, and is open to the public.
. Inside, a grand staircase, vaulted on intersecting ribs, leads up to a marble pillar, decorated with "grotesque
s", which is thought to be the work of Jean Goujon
or one of his pupils. The interior comprises a series of vaulted rooms, decorated with martial trophies, and containing a small museum. The external and interior decoration is typical of the French Renaissance style, with Classical order
s (ionic, doric, Corinthian), scenes from the legend of Hercules, such as the Lernaean Hydra
and the Nemean lion
, as well as more personal motifs, such as the cannons, swords, the collar of the Order of Saint Michael
.
A tower-shaped dovecote
, dating to 1537, contains 2,500 terracotta nesting boxes, which were accessed by a rotating ladder. Now private property, the dovecote was registered as a monument historique on 21 November 2005. The mill was built on the site of a medieval mill, and was rebuilt several times.
Assier
Assier is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France....
, in the Lot department of the Midi-Pyrénées
Midi-Pyrénées
Midi-Pyrénées is the largest region of metropolitan France by area, larger than the Netherlands or Denmark.Midi-Pyrénées has no historical or geographical unity...
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
of south-west France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is an example of the diffusion of Renaissance château architecture
French Renaissance architecture
French Renaissance architecture is the style of architecture which was imported to France from Italy during the early 16th century and developed in the light of local architectural traditions....
from the Loire Valley
Loire Valley
The Loire Valley , spanning , is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River in central France. Its area comprises approximately . It is referred to as the Cradle of the French Language, and the Garden of France due to the abundance of vineyards, fruit orchards, and artichoke, asparagus, and...
into other parts of France.
History
Built between 1518 and 1535, the château was commissioned by Jacques Galiot de Genouillac (1465–1546), Grand Squire of FranceGrand Squire of France
The Grand Écuyer de France or Grand Squire of France or Grand Equerry of France was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France and a member of the Maison du Roi during the Ancien Régime. The name "écuyer", the French word for squire, is the origin for the French word "écurie" and the...
under King François I
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
. The château was designed as a large quadrangle, 40 metres (131.2 ft) on each side, flanked by massive round towers at each corner, capped with ogival
Ogee
An ogee is a curve , shaped somewhat like an S, consisting of two arcs that curve in opposite senses, so that the ends are parallel....
domes.
Jeanne, only heiress of Galiot de Genouillac, married Charles de Crussol, vicomte d'Uzès (1483–1546). In 1768, their descendant, the duc d'Uzès, sold most of the château to demolition contractors, who pulled down the buildings and sold the materials. The duke retained the west wing for agricultural uses. In spite of the classification of the building as a historic monument, by Prosper Mérimée
Prosper Mérimée
Prosper Mérimée was a French dramatist, historian, archaeologist, and short story writer. He is perhaps best known for his novella Carmen, which became the basis of Bizet's opera Carmen.-Life:...
in 1841, the agricultural use continued until the whole of the surviving building was acquired by the French state in 1934. Since 1901, when it was registered as a monument historique
Monument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
, extensive restoration works have been carried out. The building is now in the care of the Centre des monuments nationaux
Centre des monuments nationaux
The Centre des monuments nationaux is a French government body which conserves, restores, and manages historic buildings and sites which are the property of the French state...
, and is open to the public.
Architecture
The remaining west wing retains its pedimented gateway, which sheltered, in a niche at first floor level, an equestrian statue of Galiot de Genouillac. The courtyard frontage is decorated with two broad friezes, richly carved with emblems referring to the military achievements of Galiot de Genouillac, and to the legend of HerculesHercules
Hercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene...
. Inside, a grand staircase, vaulted on intersecting ribs, leads up to a marble pillar, decorated with "grotesque
Grotesque
The word grotesque comes from the same Latin root as "Grotto", meaning a small cave or hollow. The original meaning was restricted to an extravagant style of Ancient Roman decorative art rediscovered and then copied in Rome at the end of the 15th century...
s", which is thought to be the work of Jean Goujon
Jean Goujon
Jean Goujon was a French Renaissance sculptor and architect.-Biography:His early life is little known; he was likely born in Normandy and may have traveled in Italy...
or one of his pupils. The interior comprises a series of vaulted rooms, decorated with martial trophies, and containing a small museum. The external and interior decoration is typical of the French Renaissance style, with Classical order
Classical order
A classical order is one of the ancient styles of classical architecture, each distinguished by its proportions and characteristic profiles and details, and most readily recognizable by the type of column employed. Three ancient orders of architecture—the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian—originated in...
s (ionic, doric, Corinthian), scenes from the legend of Hercules, such as the Lernaean Hydra
Lernaean Hydra
In Greek mythology, the Lernaean Hydra was an ancient nameless serpent-like chthonic water beast, with reptilian traits, that possessed many heads — the poets mention more heads than the vase-painters could paint, and for each head cut off it grew two more — and poisonous breath so virulent even...
and the Nemean lion
Nemean Lion
The Nemean lion was a vicious monster in Greek mythology that lived at Nemea. It was eventually killed by Heracles. It could not be killed with mortal weapons because its golden fur was impervious to attack...
, as well as more personal motifs, such as the cannons, swords, the collar of the Order of Saint Michael
Order of Saint Michael
The Order of Saint Michael was a French chivalric order, founded by Louis XI of France in 1469, in competitive response to the Burgundian Order of the Golden Fleece founded by Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, Louis' chief competitor for the allegiance of the great houses of France, the Dukes of...
.
A tower-shaped dovecote
Dovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
, dating to 1537, contains 2,500 terracotta nesting boxes, which were accessed by a rotating ladder. Now private property, the dovecote was registered as a monument historique on 21 November 2005. The mill was built on the site of a medieval mill, and was rebuilt several times.
External links
- Château d'Assier, Centre des monuments nationaux (English language website)