Centre des monuments nationaux

Come and visit the château of Bussy-Rabutin near Montbard in a little wooded valley in the Morvan region, and discover a surprising portrait gallery created by a disgraced courtier of King Louis XIV. Stroll around the French-style gardens and enjoy views of the château surrounded by its moats.

Visiting the château of Bussy-Rabutin

• A ‘summer house' with Renaissance decoration. The galleries around the courtyard were built around 1520 and their style is typical of the first French Renaissance. The frontage of the main building was finished in 1649 and resembles that of the Louvre.

• A brief history. Count Roger de Bussy-Rabutin assembled a portrait gallery in the fashion of the day, here accompanied with caustic inscriptions. There are 65 portraits of great warriors, mistresses of the Kings of France, and in the gilded tower the most beautiful women at court, inspired by the Ladies' Cabinet at Versailles.

Understanding the château of Bussy-Rabutin

• A colourful character. Count Roger de Bussy-Rabutin (1618-1693), the cousin of Madame de Sévigné, was a soldier, courtier and famous writer. He was chased from court for having exposed the love affairs of his famous contemporaries in his Histoire amoureuse des Gaules.

• Successfully rescued. The Count de Sarcus started restoration works in the 19th century and managed to get the château listed as a historic monument in 1862, the first instance of State protection for private properties. It was bought by the State in 1929 and extensive restoration work has been carried out since the 1970s.