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Origin and history

The Château de Broglie, located in the department of Eure in Normandy, finds its origins in the 11th century under the name of château de Chambrais. William the Conqueror entrusted the seigneury to Henri de Ferrières in 1071. This first castle occupied a strategic position on a terrace overlooking the Charentonne valley, reflecting its defensive role in the region after the Norman conquest.

In the 18th century, the site was profoundly redesigned by Simon Arnauld, Marquis de Pomponne and Minister of Louis XIV. In 1716 François-Marie de Broglie acquired the estate, and in 1742 Louis XV erected Chambrais as a Duchy-Payrie under the name of Broglie, thus giving its present name to the commune. These transformations marked the transition from a medieval fortress to an aristocratic residence, symbol of the power of the Broglia family.

After the French Revolution, the Duke Victor de Broglie and his wife Albertine de Staël undertook important works, giving the castle its present appearance with a facade of more than 250 meters. The chapel, the libraries (including that of Madame de Staël), and the large living room called "Blue Salon" bear witness to this blissful period. Since 1974, several elements of the castle have been listed as historical monuments, preserving this architectural and cultural heritage.

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