Marvel at Fort d’Ecouen a magnificent Renaissance château. Its history whispers tales of power and artistry. Standing proudly near Paris this fortress guarded the Plain of France for centuries.
Originally a 12th-century structure it was inherited by Anne de Montmorency in 1515. He was no ordinary nobleman. Anne served as Constable of France a powerful position. He was King Francis I’s close companion. Montmorency envisioned a grand residence worthy of his status.
He completely rebuilt the fortress. The design mirrored the royal Château of Chambord. It boasts a rectangular shape surrounding a central courtyard. Square pavilions accentuate each corner. Two three-story residential wings connect to a single-story entrance wing. Monumental staircases grace the centers of the residential wings. These were for accessing the luxurious upper-floor suites.
The south wing housed Montmorency and his wife Madeleine of Savoy. Their private chapel and apartments occupied this wing. The north wing welcomed royal visitors. The queen’s suite occupied the first floor. The king’s suite was directly above. Rows of dormer windows adorn the top floors of the main wings.
Jean Bullant a renowned architect added his touch. He’s particularly known for his work on the north wing. Bullant’s neo-classical peristyles. They employed the colossal order a style merging classical and medieval aesthetics. These are a hallmark of French Renaissance architecture.
Sadly original construction records are lost. Bullant also designed Montmorency’s tomb. Many prominent Renaissance artists decorated Fort d’Ecouen. Jean Goujon Jean Bullant Barthélémy Prieur and Bernard Palissy contributed their talents. Members of the Androuet du Cerceau family also worked here. Much of the original stained glass is now at the Musée Condé.
The château remained in the Montmorency family until 1632. It then passed to the Bourbon-Condé branch of the royal family. In 1787 Louis Joseph de Bourbon Prince of Condé ordered the demolition of the original east entrance. This was topped by an equestrian statue of Montmorency. He wanted a better view of the gardens.
The French Revolution saw the château confiscated by the state. Napoleon Bonaparte granted it to the Legion d’Honneur. It became a school for the daughters of the Legion’s chevaliers. Later it served as a school until 1962. Finally in 1977 Fort d’Ecouen opened as the French National Museum of the Renaissance. Its incredible collections showcasing the best of the era tell a compelling story of the past. Take a moment to absorb the grandeur of Fort d’Ecouen. Its walls hold echoes of centuries gone by.