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Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Nemours, built in the 12th century by Gauthier I of Villebéon, is an exceptionally preserved medieval castle. Located at the edge of the kingdom of France, it served as a strategic lock against the king's enemy County of Champagne. Its position along the Loing, surrounded by the river on three sides, made it a natural fortress. The castle was also a toll place for goods and travellers crossing the ford.

Over the centuries, the castle changed hands and functions. In the 15th century, Jacques d'Armagnac transformed it into a marina, adding refined windows and decors. In the 17th century, Louis XIV made it a place of justice with prison and court. After the Revolution, it became a school, a theatre, and then a museum in 1903, thanks to the initiative of sculptor Justin-Chrysostome Sanson.

The architecture of the castle reflects its many uses. The dungeon, flanked by four turrets, housed residential rooms and a Roman-Gothic oratory. The 30-metre-high gallery and watchtower provided optimal river monitoring. Ranked a historic monument in 1977, the castle now houses more than 20,000 works, mainly fine arts from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Since the 19th century, the castle inspired artists and writers, like Victor Hugo, who made a critical description of it in 1844. It also serves as a setting for films and ballets, demonstrating its lasting cultural appeal. His collections include sculptures by Rodin, prints by Goya and Delacroix, and paintings by Bernard Boutet de Monvel.

The castle-museum of Nemours is distinguished by its state of conservation and its dual vocation: medieval fortress and cultural space. Its history, marked by figures such as Gauthier de Villebéon and the Dukes of Savoy, makes it an emblematic place of the Franciscan heritage.

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