Château de Valençay

Château de Valencay, with its sublime architectural balance between renaissance and classic styles, has changed over time. For over thirty years, it belonged to an illustrious figure who made his mark on 19th century history: Charles- Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord. Encouraged by Napoleon, he bought Valencay estate in 1803 so that he could receive foreign dignitaries. The chateau enjoyed its golden age for nearly a quarter of a century, when it became home to a famous diplomat. The Small Theatre: Opening out onto the round gardens, this refined building was built in 1810 to sweeten the Spanish Princes' forced stay. It has been open to visitors since 2012, for private tours on Sunday mornings.