later duke of Châtelet, the chateau passed to his niece, later Madame de Simiane, Diane-Adélaïde de Damas, who received La Fayette there many times. Her heirs in the Damas d'Antigny family sold the property to a merchant, who sold it on in 1890 to a pen owner named Armand-Viellard, ancestor of the present owner. Description The chateau stands on the bank of the river Blaise and consists of the main building and a large southwestern outer bailey. Together with several other buildings, these structures all lie within an English landscape garden. The main chateau building consists of a large pavilion tower with a square floor plan and a tented roof. Connected to this on the south side is an extension, built in the 17th century at the same time as the tower. The L-shaped gallery wing, which adjoins the pavilion on its west side, dates from the 18th century. It has an elaborately designed portal that was built according to Voltaire's designs, with reliefs indicating his interest in the sciences, philosophy and the arts. One of the oldest private theaters in France is located on the top floor, set up by Voltaire in 1735 to rehearse the plays he wrote during those years. A short northern extension to the pavilion dates back to the 19th century, as does the castle chapel, whose wall paintings date from 1851 and were executed by Constant Ménissier. Inside, much of the valuable furnishings from the 17th and 18th centuries has been preserved, for example the dado and panelling in the billiard room and an oven in the dining room. Almost all of the castle's outbuildings date from the second half of the 19th century and are located around a rectangular inner courtyard, through whose driveway in the southwest corner the castle grounds can be entered. Access to the main castle is via a pavilion-like gatehouse with a round arched archway on the east side of the service yard. However, the building is not part of the original baroque development, but was only erected in 1915. The various buildings we’re formerly used as a stable and chicken coop, granary, dovecote, barn, shepherd's house and cattle shed. An icehouse has also been preserved. The chateau complex includes a large landscaped garden, dating back to the mid-15th century. Since 26 December 2001 it has been separately protected as a monument historique. The castle park has an approximately