Castle of Bellefontaine

Château de Bellefontaine is a castle in the Seine Valley in Samois-sur-Seine, perched on a hilltop above the surrounding landscape. It is surrounded by about 3.6 hectares of ornamental gardens and stands near the Forest of Fontainebleau.

Nicolas Bergasse, a representative of the Third Estate and advisor to Louis XVI, owned the property in 1800, marking the beginning of its private ownership in the modern era. The château later passed to Russian Prince Troubetskoï, connecting it to a different cultural sphere.

The gardens around the château follow French landscape design traditions with carefully arranged sections that blend nature and human planning. They show how people shaped the land to create spaces for both beauty and practical use.

The best time to visit depends on weather conditions, as the hilltop location means exposure to wind and open air. It is wise to check ahead which areas are open to visitors, as the château is undergoing revitalization and access may be limited.

The Russian Prince Vladimir Nicolaievitch Orloff, son of a Russian ambassador, spent his final years here after fleeing the Russian Revolution. This connection to Russian noble families gives the property an international story stretching across continents and time.