Bussy Rabutin Castle - Burgundy Region - The French People's Favorite Monument

Bussy Rabutin Castle - Burgundy Region - The French People's Favorite Monument
This castle, located 45km from Limoges and overlooking the Graine and Vayres valleys, combines a variety of styles: medieval, Renaissance, and even avant-garde! Within its walls, which date back to the 12th century, it houses a museum of contemporary art.
It was the Viscounts of Rochechouart who erected the very first buildings in the 12th century, namely a keep and its small gatehouse. At the time, the focus was still solely on "defense," and for good reason: the English and French were fiercely fought in the area! In the 15th century, during calmer times, the owners decided to soften the rusticity of the place: a Renaissance main building with graceful facades and a more comfortable and decorated interior was built. An arcaded gallery was also opened in the inner courtyard. A visit to the site offers two surprises: the hunting room, so named because a 16th-century mural depicts in color a day of deer hunting near the castle. The Hercules Gallery houses a large grisaille, a kind of gray enamel, depicting this powerful demigod. These works blend perfectly with contemporary art... for nearly thirty years since the museum opened!