Castle of La Bastie d'Urfé, Renaissance castle and museum in Saint-Étienne-le-Molard, France
Castle of La Bastie d'Urfé is a Renaissance residence in Saint-Étienne-le-Molard with carefully designed stone facades and landscaped grounds. Its rooms display period furnishings and decorative elements that reflect how people lived during that era.
This structure started as a monastic barn in the 11th century and later transformed into a fortified residence with defensive features such as drawbridges. The changes reflect how architecture and purpose evolved over time.
The castle inspired the novel L'Astrée by Honoré d'Urfé, whose descriptions of the gardens and surroundings made this place known to readers across France. The work turned the estate into a celebrated literary landmark.
The site is open Wednesday through Monday with a break at midday when it closes briefly. Guided tours are available through the staff, allowing visitors to explore the rooms and gardens at a comfortable pace.
The chapel once held exceptional intarsia wood panels with intricate geometric patterns and fine craftsmanship. Those carved pieces are now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York.
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