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View from the chateau
La Roche Guyon
The Château that dominates the village
occupies three levels and represents three periods: the eighteenth
century age of decorated splendor, the Renaissance, and the
Middle Ages. A 10th century baron named Guy built the medieval
keep at the top of the chalk cliffs that overlook a bend in
the Seine far below. The formidable military structure gave
the name to the place: Guy’s rock. The chateau later
became the home of the Duc de la Rochefoucauld and in the twentieth
century served as the headquarters for Nazi Germany’s
most famous general, Marshall Erwin Rommel, who directed the
Battle of Normandy from its comfort and security.
Approaching the village
of La Roche Guyon, which skirts the chateau between the cliffs
into which it is built and the river below, the charm and
beauty of the bucolic countryside clashes with the memories
of 1944, when the Nazi occupation kept the entire population
and the surrounding area in a tight grip. The beautiful eighteenth
century rooms in the second level of the chateau house exhibits
that remind the visitor of the war years, with portraits
of the occupying officers and the story of the occupation.
Other rooms remember quieter times when a member of the La
Rochefoucauld family penned a series of maxims that became
famous in the canon of early French literature.
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The
chateau also harbors memories of strong American connections,
as the Duc de la Rochefoucauld was a close friend of
Thomas Jefferson, who often visited here during the five
years he resided in France. His private secretary was
a young American named William Short, who later replaced
Jefferson as Minister to France. Short’s acquaintance
with the charming and attractive young Duchess, unhappily
married to a much older husband, resulted in a close
and intimate friendship and a correspondence that lasted
for almost thirty years. The Duchess’ letters to
Short survived in an American archive, and tell in poignant
detail the terrors of the French Revolution that cost
the lives of many of her family members and separated
her from Short for the rest of their lives.
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A
visit to the chateau begins through the impressive eighteenth-century
wrought iron gates giving onto a courtyard leading into
the stables where German soldiers were quartered during
the years of the Nazi occupation. The vaulted rooms of
the crypt were formerly stables for the Duke’s
horses and carriages. A short staircase leads the visitor
to the second level, where the Renaissance chapel and
the luxurious eighteenth century rooms can be visited.
A tunnel from the chapel court through the chalk cliff
leads to a challenging stair case up to the medieval
keep with its splendid views of the Seine valley. |
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There
are several restaurants in the town and pleasant walks
by the river which is a popular boating and fishing site
during the summer months. You may select a simple lunch
in a local brasserie or a more formal meal at the hotel
by the river. Coffee, tea, Norman cider and a selection
of pastries are also available in shops in the village. |
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Pricing and Availability
Fees: $150 per person with a two person
minimum.
Special Considerations
or Preparations
For the escorted tours by car, we will pick
you up and drop you off at your hotel. If you wish to connect
the visit to La Roche Guyon with stops at other sites in the
vicinity, we will arrange your schedule accordingly. La Roche
Guyon is difficult to visit by public transport.
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