Château de Bussy-Rabutin
Encyclopedia
The Château de Bussy-Rabutin, also known as Château de Bussy-le-Grand, is located in the commune of Bussy-le-Grand
, in the Côte-d'Or
department, Bourgogne
, eastern France
.
galleries were added in the 1520s. altered during the reigns of Henri II
(1547–1559) and Louis XIII
(1610–1643).
Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy
(1618–1693), fell into disgrace for allegedly having taken part in an orgy
at the Château de Roissy, near Paris, during Holy Week
. Bussy was ordered by Louis XIV
to retire to his estates, where he passed the time by composing his Histoire amoureuse des Gaules. This account of various courtly love affairs caused further scandal, and he was eventually sent to the Bastille
on 17 April 1665, where he remained for more than a year. Bussy only obtained his release on condition that he retired once more to Bussy-Rabutin, where he lived in exile from court for seventeen years. Although he briefly returned to court in the 1680s, he soon returned to Bussy-Rabutin, dying there in 1693. During his exile he amassed a collection of portraits, which remains in the château.
Restoration works were begun in the 19th century by the comte de Sarcus, and the property was listed as a monument historique
in 1862. It was purchased by the French state in 1929, and is currently managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux
. Further restoration has been carried out since the 1970s.
Bussy-le-Grand
Bussy-le-Grand is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.-Population:-Personalities:Jean-Andoche Junot, a general under Napoleon was born in the village...
, in the Côte-d'Or
Côte-d'Or
Côte-d'Or is a department in the eastern part of France.- History :Côte-d'Or is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was formed from part of the former province of Burgundy.- Geography :...
department, Bourgogne
Bourgogne
Burgundy is one of the 27 regions of France.The name comes from the Burgundians, an ancient Germanic people who settled in the area in early Middle-age. The region of Burgundy is both larger than the old Duchy of Burgundy and smaller than the area ruled by the Dukes of Burgundy, from the modern...
, eastern 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...
.
History
The château was founded in the 12th century by Renaudin de Bussy. It was rebuilt in the 14th century, and the RenaissanceFrench 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....
galleries were added in the 1520s. altered during the reigns of Henri II
Henry II of France
Henry II was King of France from 31 March 1547 until his death in 1559.-Early years:Henry was born in the royal Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, the son of Francis I and Claude, Duchess of Brittany .His father was captured at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 by his sworn enemy,...
(1547–1559) and Louis XIII
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
(1610–1643).
Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy
Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy
Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy , commonly known as Bussy-Rabutin, was a French memoirist. He was the cousin and frequent correspondent of Madame de Sévigné....
(1618–1693), fell into disgrace for allegedly having taken part in an orgy
Orgy
In modern usage, an orgy is a sex party where guests engage in promiscuous or multifarious sexual activity or group sex. An orgy is similar to debauchery, which refers to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures....
at the Château de Roissy, near Paris, during Holy Week
Holy Week
Holy Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
. Bussy was ordered by Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
to retire to his estates, where he passed the time by composing his Histoire amoureuse des Gaules. This account of various courtly love affairs caused further scandal, and he was eventually sent to the Bastille
Bastille
The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. The Bastille was built in response to the English threat to the city of...
on 17 April 1665, where he remained for more than a year. Bussy only obtained his release on condition that he retired once more to Bussy-Rabutin, where he lived in exile from court for seventeen years. Although he briefly returned to court in the 1680s, he soon returned to Bussy-Rabutin, dying there in 1693. During his exile he amassed a collection of portraits, which remains in the château.
Restoration works were begun in the 19th century by the comte de Sarcus, and the property was listed 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...
in 1862. It was purchased by the French state in 1929, and is currently managed by 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...
. Further restoration has been carried out since the 1970s.