Château de Bonnelles, 19th-century château in Bonnelles, France.
Château de Bonnelles is a country residence built in Louis XIII architectural style with brick and stone facades accented by semicircular bays and decorative medallions. The structure showcases careful craftsmanship throughout its roofing and interior dining spaces, with the most significant elements receiving protected monument status.
The estate was built in 1849 by architects Joseph-Antoine Froelicher and Clément Parent for the Duke of Uzès, funded through his wife's personal wealth. During World War I, the Duchess converted it into a military hospital, where she personally served as nursing staff.
The estate became a major hunting center in the late 1800s, establishing the renowned Rallye-Bonnelles hunting traditions.
The site sits in a quiet village setting outside Paris and is most easily reached by car or public transportation. The exterior facades and some grounds can be viewed from the outside, though access to protected interior areas remains limited.
The château was financed entirely through a woman's personal fortune, which was remarkable for mid-19th-century France. This financial independence allowed for an ambitious construction project at a time when such major decisions typically remained under male control.
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