La Palice Castle
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La Palice Castle
Guided visit of the castle ; free visit of the park. "Monsieur de La Palice" house, the furnished castle (HM)of the 12th, 15th and 16th centuries offers coffered ceilings (the only in Europe), a flamboyant gothic chapel and a collection of national flags.
The residence of the famous Marshal of France is built on the edge of the Besbre. Since 1430, the chateau has been owned by the family of Chabannes.
The ceiling of the 16th century gilded salon, renaissance style, is considered unique in Europe. It is composed of perfectly symmetrical wooden rhombuses, painted and gilded to the leaf. This room also features tapestries from the 16th century.
The chapel (15th, MH) where the family of Chabannes rests since 1453, flamboyant Gothic, welcomes the recumbent (15th) of Jacques 1st of Chabannes and his wife, Anne of Lavieu.
The castle also offers the exhibition of a unique collection dedicated to the flags of the nations.
Dominating the Besbre from its hill, the castle has seen the centuries and the styles succeeding behind its facade which rises in the sky the Palais: flamboyant gothic, Renaissance, neogothic, common to Bourbonnaise fashion, epochs left in legacy beauties in battle and a masterpiece: a Renaissance ceiling with diamond-shaped caissons.
While the singers made a funny reputation to Jacques II of Chabannes, Lord of La Palice, attributing to him his "truths", the visit of his castle, to Lapalisse, honors this Marshal of France who was a a brave man in battle and beloved by his soldiers.
By entering Lapalisse by the National Road 7, the castle which stands in front, overlooking the city, impresses. Historical facts, family memories and anecdotes mingle to give testimony about the 30 generations who have succeeded one another in the castle since 1430. This very beautiful ensemble of the XIIth and XVIth centuries presents a main Italian Renaissance residence of polychrome bricks containing ceilings to caissons of all beauty, beautifully preserved.
Thanks to a game of track, the young visitors discover the origin of the lapalissades, and learn that Jacques 1st of Chabannes of La Palice was one of the faithful companions in arms of Joan of Arc ...
Virtual visit
Practical information
Guided tours of the castle from Wednesday to Monday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 6 pm from 1 April to 1 November.
Free visit of the park from Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 6 pm from April 1st to November 1st.
Tel: 04.70.99.37.58.
