The Château de Boisgibault is located 10 kilometers south of
Orléans
Orléans (;"Orleans" (US) and commune of Ardon in the
Loiret
Loiret (; ) is a department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of north-central France. It takes its name from the river Loiret, which is contained wholly within the department. In 2019, Loiret had a population of 680,434.
''
département
In the administrative divisions of France, the department (french: département, ) is one of the three levels of government under the national level ("territorial collectivity, territorial collectivities"), between the regions of France, admin ...
'' of France.
History
The original manor, never fortified, was built in 1680. Its successive owners continued to enlarge the area to develop the castle. In 1712, Joseph Charpentier, Lord of Brandelong and Méliers, bought Boisgibault. The family obtained the right to have a chapel in Boisgibault in 1756. His son, Jacques Charpentier de Boisgibault (1721-1794), was Senior Judge and Président of Court of Aids with Malesherbes and an advisor to King
Louis XV
Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (french: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reache ...
, and later died in the
French Revolution
The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...
. The two wings of the castle have most likely been added in the 18th century. During the French Revolution, the castle and its backyard were sold. In 1829, the château was acquired by the Marquis de Gasville who made of Boisgibault one of the finest hunting property in
Sologne
Sologne (; ) is a natural region in Centre-Val de Loire, France, extending over portions of the departements of Loiret, Loir-et-Cher and Cher. Its area is about . To its north is the river Loire, to its south the river Cher, while the districts ...
by extending the walls of the park by more than a kilometer fence. The woods were drilled in wide avenues. He built a square pavilion called the telegraph.
The château, oriented east–west, consists of an elongated building flanked by two wings. This set is characteristic of a residence of
Sologne
Sologne (; ) is a natural region in Centre-Val de Loire, France, extending over portions of the departements of Loiret, Loir-et-Cher and Cher. Its area is about . To its north is the river Loire, to its south the river Cher, while the districts ...
built for hunting, without much concern for outdoor setting. It nevertheless has a sober and balanced plan whose single character has remained very authentic.Gardens in spring Château de Boisgibault on French TV France3 /ref>
Preservation as a monument
On December 31, 2001, the Château de Boisgibault was classified as a historic monument. It should not be confused with the village
Boisgibault
Tracy-sur-Loire (, literally ''Tracy on Loire'') is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France. It is located north of Nevers, on the right bank of the middle Loire river, opposite Sancerre. Tracy-Sancerre station has rail connection ...
Châteaux of the Loire Valley
The châteaux of the Loire Valley (french: châteaux de la Loire) are part of the architectural heritage of the historic towns of Amboise, Angers, Blois, Chinon, Montsoreau, Orléans, Saumur, and Tours along the river Loire in France. They illustr ...
List of castles in France
This is a list of castles in France, arranged by Region and Department.
;Notes:
# The French word ''château'' has a wider meaning than the English ''castle'': it includes architectural entities that are properly called palaces, mansions or vine ...