Château de Balzac

The hermitage of the writer Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac, this 17th-century château also hosted Marie de Médicis following her escape from exile.

Site History

Located in the town of Balzac and built on the banks of the Charente, this 17th-century château and its park recall the memory of Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac (1597–1654), the famous Charente writer who made it his hermitage. Marie de Médicis, mother of Louis XIII, stayed for six months at the Château de Balzac. Locked up in the Château de Blois by order of the King, she escaped with the help of the Duke of Épernon, godfather of Jean-Louis Guez. He welcomed her to his château, where she stayed from March 4 to August 29, 1619. The current owners rescued the château from ruin and have been restoring it over the past 50 years.

About the Project

The project includes the urgent restoration of the north and east façades of the château, as well as the stables and the north tower. The family has been restoring the château for half a century, and they require aid in order to continue to undertake the necessary restorations to preserve the estate.

Château de Balzac Today

The château welcomes visitors to discover its painted decorations from the 17th century, which have regained their splendor since their restoration in June 2022. It is open to the public from July to August, and the owners offer a daily guided tour of the interior. Highlights of the tour include a large vaulted room with unique acoustics from the 12th–13th century, a 17th-century living room renovated with curved woodwork in the 18th century and 17th-century frescoes. Other notable features of the estate include a paved courtyard, a well, a 17th-century wrought-iron entrance gate, 18th-century colonnades, a 17th-century Charente porch and a Romanesque church from the 12th–13th century.