Paris1972-Versailles2003

This is one of those place that was near me and visited for its events and parks came quite a bit and my family enjoyed each visit. No ,its not always YSL and Mouton-Rothschild, but worth the detour for its history, me think. One of them was in Les Mureaux of my beloved Yvelines dept 78 in the Île de France region of my belle France. I found me a picture in my cd rom vault and another one older paper picture to have in my blog for you and me. Therefore ,here is my take on the Château de Bécheville of Les Mureaux !!!  Hope you enjoy the post as I

The Château de Bècheville castle was built in the 17C and magnificently remodeled in the 19C in the Louis XIII style, recognizable by its harmonious blend of red brick and stone, this castle is one of the architectural gems of Les Mureaux. Located on rue Henri Parent, The residence, nestled in a park planted with a variety of trees, retains its elegant volumes and original decorative elements. A literary anecdote adds to its prestige: the writer Stendhal stayed there in 1811 and experienced a romantic idyll that he would later evoke in his writings.

The current Château de Becheville, was built in the style of the Second Empire. The roof is slate. The symmetrical facade has a brick facing. Stones adorn the chains and the windows. In the rooms with high ceilings, the windows with seated dogs and oils-de-boeuf, the tapestries and the mirrors still bear witness to the Empire style. The wall paneling is inspired by Pompeii with Roman hea d in a medallion, motifs of flowers and animals such as dove,and butterflies, frieze of flowers surrounding the room. There is also a hunting room and a music room. The castle has an oil on canvas entitled L’Automne or Le Repos après la chasse, (the Fall or the rest after the hunt) which was restored at the end of the 20C. This is an old copy of a work by François Boucher dating from 1734 and now missing the original. In the same room, there is another painting representing a rider watering his horses from a fountain. An alignment of small coat racks reminds us that the castle was once transformed into a school. A wooded park, which initially covered 22 hectares, faces the castle. A cooler was used to store provisions.

A bit of history I like tell us that for more than two centuries, the Vion family, originally from Burgundy, owned the lordships of Les Mureaux and Becheville. These include, successively several members of the family specially that of Mathieu de Vion where the construction of the first Château de Becheville dates from this period. Jean Paul de Vion was the last lord of Les Mureaux and Becheville, In 1776, Pierre Louis Randon de Lucenay, knight, purchased the Becheville estate. He made himself popular by waiving tax on his peasants’ crops in bad years. During the French revolution, he voluntarily gave up his privileges, thus saving his life and his château. In 1811, Pierre Daru, statesman and Count of the Empire, acquired the estate. That same year, the Darus welcomed their cousin Stendhal to the château, who spent three weeks there. He courted Alexandrine Daru, his host’s wife, in vain. After this romantic disappointment, he left for Italy. He would recount this event in his novel, The Red and the Black: Alexandrine became Madame de B there, and the château bore various pseudonyms. The novelist admitted to having “lost the Battle of Becheville.” Between 1850 and 1860, Napoleon Daru, Pierre’s son, had the current château built. After 1890, the year of Napoleon Daru’s death, Félix Hubin , a metals merchant, acquired the property, which then covered 600 hectares. It had various owners and tenants. During the interwar period, the château was leased to the merchant Jules Fribourg. During the war, Fribourg, a victim of anti-Semitic laws, was plundered by the Nazi occupiers.In 1953, the city purchased the château and park. The château was transformed into a school, the Jules Ferry school complex, and the park was partially divided into lots to accommodate population growth. It has housed the Gabriel Fauré Conservatory since 1972, breathing new musical life into these walls steeped in history. Instrumental discovery, musical training, lyrical singing and vocal technique, adult choir, children’s choir, variety singing, classical and jazz piano, organ, harp, trumpet, transverse flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, viola, cello, classical guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, jazz and organ improvisation lessons, jazz workshops, rock workshops, jazz orchestra, classical orchestra, chamber music and the Orchestra at school, from 5th to 3rd grade in conjunction with the Jules-Verne college. (middle school).

The City of Les Mureaux on its castle/park of Becheville : https://lesmureaux.info/item/parc-et-chateau-de-becheville/

The city of Les Mureaux on the park : https://www.lesmureaux.fr/Parc-de-B%c3%a8cheville/15041/

The Local Terres de Seine tourist office on Les Mureaux : https://www.terres-de-seine.fr/?s=Les+Mureaux

There you go folks, another dandy spot in my world map, This one is worth the detour for its history me think ; give it a moment to stop here on your way from Paris to Normandy and see the aviation history in Les Mureaux, at least.  Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Château de Bécheville of Les Mureaux !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!