La galerie des portraits de BEAUREGARD

Les personnages qui ont construit l’EUROPE d’aujourd’hui

Un endroit idéal pour nous rafraîchir la mémoire et potentiellent faire le lien avec les politiciens actuels qui aiment bien appeler les héros d’hier à la rescousse pour les projets actuels.

La galerie des Illustres de BEAUREGARD ouvre un panorama au public qui apprécie les représentations historiques. Celles-ci permettent de mieux comprendre le présent et d’en éclairer les enjeux…L’histoire d’une société nourrit la mémoire collective, soulève les passions et contribue à la constitution d’identités fortes.

Eh oui ! Comme la plupart des châteaux de la Loire, BEAUREGARD est impliqué dans les enjeux politiques et sociales (Centre même de l’Humanisme et de la Renaissance) tant au passé qu’au présent.
La galerie des portraits à BEAUREGARD, c’est un outil pédagogique par excellence où les invités de Paul Ardier faisaient de l’histoire un objet de débats passionnés dans lesquels on condamne volontiers l’ignorance.

The old Library

This room, next to the Portrait Gallery, was added during the 19th century to be used as a library. On the ceiling, you can observe the names of great women and men of literature in the 16th century (Ronsard, Du Bellay, Rabelais…) which are echoing the Renaissance origin of the chateau.
All around the gallery, and at the bottom of the beams are the names of Beauregard’s successive owners.
The Grand Library now contains a beautiful collection of furniture dated from the 16th and the 17th century, allowing a good appreciation of a Renaissance chateau’s furniture.

Kitchen de la Renaissance

The kitchen
From the fine gourmet chef and apprentice cook at the chateau of Beauregard you will be amazed with the authentic cuisine dating from the 16th century as well as the 19th array of 85 copper pans and the fireplaces which are still working today.

The kitchen was used in its original format for four centuries.
The original utensils are here and the layout was only changed 40 years ago.

The bell’s study

In the gallery of the Grand Library is the study of the owner of the chateau, Jean Du Thier called it the bell’s study. Created by Francesco Scibec de Carpi, King Henry the 2nd famous cabinetmaker, its name is referring to the bells on the coat of arms of the Du Their family, it is an ornamental pattern seen everywhere in the room. The Little room is made of oak wood delicately worked, the Renaissance paintings on the wall represent activities that gentlemen could practice all add up to the beauty.
Decorated with an Italian ceiling, this original study isn’t going to stop amazing you and it hasn’t finished revealing its secrets.

Portraits Gallery, This is the only one in Europe with such a collection of portraits

« these portraits that you see are the proof that everything that comes into this world doesn’t perish, but that’s especially with virtue and by fortune, that mortals can become immortals.” (Not everything that comes into this world deteriorates and the portraits you now see are proof of this !!If someone is kind and rich they will achieve immortality , mean people will be remembered until the end of the world): (Paul Ardier Senior – Portraits Gallery Beauregard)

The portraits gallery makes the chateau visit most unforgettable for history lovers.
This French Unique work of art depicts the very particular pavement and its luxury ceiling, this gallery is the most complete and is exhaustively maintained to this day.
It is a monumental piece of art, it was built over three generations of owners from the 17th century, senior officials or kings’ ministers and history lovers.

Paul Ardier, state treasurer, owner of Beauregard between 1619 and 1638 devoted the last years of his life to this project: it narrates 315 years of France and European history through portraits of famous people. The people in the 327 portraits are the main characters of political history of France and Europe help us to make them more alive: they aren’t just names in history books.
They are all organised in a chronological order on a human scale historical timeline which, throughout the reigns of fifteen French Kings’ are offering an out of the ordinary time travel and make us feel and understand history like never before.
This impressive collection is enhanced by a ceiling made of lapis-lazuli, known for its luxury and its delicacy, it will amaze you by its original aspect because it has never been restored !!!

Special chairs have been provided for you so you may lay down and enjoy an impressive experience.
In addition, looking down, your eyes will be able to admire an extraordinary pavement of Delft earthenware 5600 tiles representing the different body of the marching army under Louis the 13th. A great agenda.