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The Château de Villers-Cotterêts (pronounced [ʃɑto d(ə) vilɛʁ kɔt(ə)ʁɛ]) is a historic French château located in the town of Villers-Cotterêts in the Aisne department, Hauts-de-France, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) north-east of Paris.
| Château de Villers-Cotterêts | |
|---|---|
 | |
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| General information | |
| Type | Château |
| Architectural style | French Renaissance |
| Town or city | Villers-Cotterêts |
| Country | France |
| Construction started | 1530 |
| Completed | 1556 |
| Owner | Government of France |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Jacques Lebreton, Guillaume Lebreton, Philibert de l'Orme |
It is a state property and a historic monument since 1997.
History edit
Original construction edit
The castle was built for Francis I of France on the edge of the Forest of Retz.
In 1539, Francis I of France signed the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts which made the use of the French language mandatory in the acts of administration and justice.
In 1661, Louis XIV offers the castle to his brother Philippe I, Duke of Orléans.[1]
Revolution and aftermath edit
In 1790, the castle was seized as national property.
Napoleon turned it into a beggar's home, a prison and a hospice in 1808. It then became a retirement home in 1889 until the end of 2014.[2]
21st century restoration edit
In 2023, following a colossal restoration campaign, Emmanuel Macron turned the castle into the Cité Internationale de la Langue Française, dedicated to the French language.[3]
References edit
- ^ "Villers-Cotterêts Castle". www.culture.gouv.fr.
- ^ "The Château de Villers-Cotterêts becomes the Cité internationale de la langue française - CMN". www.monuments-nationaux.fr.
- ^ "French Monument of the Month: Villers-Cotterêts". France Today. October 11, 2023.
External links edit
- Cité internationale de la langue française official website (English language)
Media related to Château de Villers-Cotterêts at Wikimedia Commons
