European Heritage - old and even older

Scout enjoys European Patrimony Day
with a visit to the chateau gardens.

Each fall, governments all over Europe celebrate their heritage with open houses, lectures, and events at national sites and monuments.  Thomas and I try to take advantage of these events which usually involve exceptional openings, special programs, or discounted entrance fees.

This year we decided to go to Chateau Dampierre, a chateau that we always see on our way to Rambouillet forest, and the national archaeology museum in Saint Germaine en Laye.

Chateau Dampierre was built in the 1700s. It smaller than most of the other chateaus but the warm colors of the stone work , dark orange and sand tones, help make the chateau stand out from the surrounding forests which helps give it a sense of grandeur.  It's gardens were designed by the famous Le Notre but did not have the fanciful shapes and patterns of his other gardens at Versailles, Seaux, and Vaux le Vicomte.  The chateau garden was pleasant to walk around. It had a lovely canal with a garden folly at one end.  From afar, the chateau looks very stately but a closer inspection reveals the neglect of the years - sagging roofs, warped glass, and cracking masonry.  Its a shame that the house itself is in such disrepair.  Hopefully, there is a plan to ensure this little chateau endures for another 300 years.