Introduction
The Château de Bouges, located in Bouges-le-Château in the Loire Valley, is an impressive 18th-century mansion classified as a historic monument.
The castle’s beautiful gardens are listed as notable gardens in France.
Both are open to the public and offer a range of activities.

History
The Bouges estate dates back to the 10th century and originally included a fortified castle.
It was gifted in 1547 by Catherine de Medici to her advisor, Jean-Baptiste Seghizo.
Later, in 1570, Bouges was sold to Marc Antoine with Catharina’s consent.
Claude Charles François Leblanc de Marnaval, a wealthy industrialist, had the original building demolished and replaced with the present Italian-style castle between 1759 and 1773.
After his bankruptcy in 1779, the castle changed hands several times, including the Prince de Talleyrand and the Dufour family, who made important renovations.

Architecture
The castle, built in the Italian style, recalls the small Trianon of Versailles.
It consists of 58 rooms spread over three levels and two mezzanines.
The facades are decorated with pediments and a wrought-iron balcony.
The building has an elegant rectangular pavilion on a pedestal, surrounded by a cornice and balustrade.

Current use
In 1917, Henry and Renée Viguier purchased the chateau.
They restored it and modernized its facilities, including electricity and running water.
They also brought a passion for equestrianism to the estate and integrated the horse into all activities on the property.
The Viguier’s also saw to the restoration of the gardens, which included a flower garden and a greenhouse for exotic plants.
In 1967, the estate was transferred to the National Fund for Historical Monuments (now Centre des Monuments Nationaux), with a desire to make the chateau and gardens accessible to the public.