Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Eu, located in the commune of Eu in Normandy, finds its origins in the 10th century with a castle fort cited since 925 by the cleric Flodoard. This first building, strategic for the defence of the Duchy of Normandy, was the scene of significant events: the marriage of William of Normandy in 1050, the imprisonment of Jeanne d'Arc in 1430, and the destruction ordered by Louis XI in 1475. A modest mansion replaced it in 1480, before a large castle was built a century later.

The present structure, initiated between 1581 and 1583 by Henri de Guise and Catherine de Clèves, was enlarged in the 17th century by Anne-Marie-Louise d'Orléans, known as the Great Mademoiselle. The castle, typical of the Louis XIII and classic styles, then passes into the hands of the descendants of Louis XIV, notably the Duke of Maine. During the Revolution, he was sequestered and then occupied by the Rouen senatory during the First Empire.

In the 19th century, the castle became an imperial and royal residence. Louis-Philippe, after his arrival in 1830, undertook important works led by architect Pierre Fontaine. He received Queen Victoria there in 1843 and 1845, sealing the first fruits of the cordial agreement. A gallery dedicated to these visits, decorated with paintings by Winterhalter and Lami, was built before being demolished in the 1870s. After exile from the Orléans family in 1848, the castle was restored by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc for the Count of Paris from 1872.

A fire ravages much of the castle in 1902, saving only the north wing. Sold in 1905 to Gaston d'Orléans, Count d'Eu, and to his wife Isabelle de Bragance, heir to the imperial throne of Brazil, the estate is restored without regaining its original decorations. Occupied by the Germans during World War II, it was finally acquired by the city of Eu in 1964. Since 1973, it has housed the town hall and the Louis-Philippe Museum, preserving memories of the House of Orleans.

The castle, partially classified as a historic monument since 1983 and 1985, is distinguished by its 116 hectares park, classified in 1987, and its remarkable outbuildings such as stables or the pavilion of the Fontaines. The Galerie des Guise, restored in the 21st century, exhibits 46 portraits related to its history. The site was also used as a setting for the show Secrets d'Histoire for episodes dedicated to the Great Miss, Louis-Philippe and Emperor Pedro II of Brazil.

Today, the castle of Eu combines architectural heritage and historical memory. His museum presents collections related to Orléans, while elements such as the Guise table or the cooler bear witness to his princely past. Part of the estate remains private property, passed on to the descendants of Isabelle d'Orléans-Bragance, thus perpetuating its link with European and Brazilian history.

Future

The Château d'Eu hosts the Musée Louis-Philippe, labeled "Musée de France".

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