Château de Médan, Renaissance castle in Médan, France.
Château de Médan is a castle in Médan overlooking the Seine, with its core structure dating to the 15th century and later expansions reflecting multiple building periods. The residence combines original Renaissance elements with 18th-century additions that enlarged the living spaces.
The castle was built in the late 15th century as a hunting lodge and later served as a royal residence during King Henry IV's hunting expeditions in the region.
Writer Émile Zola purchased the castle in 1878 and transformed it into a meeting place for artists and writers of his era. The property reflects the importance this location held for France's literary circles during that period.
Visits to the property require group bookings with a minimum of twelve participants and guided tours operate throughout the year. The tours typically include tastings in the wine cellar, which enriches the experience on site.
Nobel Prize winner Maurice Maeterlinck lived here starting in 1924 and wrote significant scientific works including 'The Life of Termites' during his time at the property. His residency marked the castle as a writing place for innovative nature observations.
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