Since 1951 the Château de Saché, in the heart of the Tourangelle countryside, has been a museum dedicated to the life and work of one of the greatest figures of French literature, Honoré de Balzac. The author of La Comédie Humaine particularly appreciated the calm and poetry of this Renaissance residence which became for him a place of escape.
Born in Tours on 20 May 1799, Honoré de Balzac became, through his many activities as a novelist, playwright, critic, essayist and journalist, one of the most important men of the 19th century; a century to which he has left us a vibrant and precious testimony thanks to this monumental literary work that is The Human Comedy. The aim of this collection of 90 novels is "to write the history forgotten by so many historians, that of morals".
Admired throughout Europe, Balzac's work has deeply inspired all the generations of artists who have followed his; Gustave Flaubert, Emile Zola and Marcel Proust in particular recognised themselves as his heirs. A very large part of his novels has been adapted for the theatre, television and cinema.
Although he lived in Paris all his life, Balzac will always feel a deep love for his native land.
In 23 years he spent ten stays at the Château de Saché. In all, he seems to have lived there for the equivalent of a full year. Located only 20 kilometres from Tours, the place is a Renaissance dwelling whose main building dates from the 15th century.
At the dawn of the 19th century, it was completely redecorated and fitted out according to the latest fashion by its new owner, a man whose family is very close to that of Balzac.
The writer thus became acquainted with the estate, which he visited for the first time in 1825. From then on, this place became a real refuge for him. When the Parisian atmosphere became too heavy, the writer stayed there and wrote some of his most famous novels, such as Père Goriot and César Birotteau. But if there is one work in which Saché's imprint is undeniable, it is above all Le Lys dans la vallée, a novel set in the Indre-et-Loire region.
Today the castle is a real museum to the glory of Balzac. You can visit his room and discover some interesting reconstructions of the decorations of his novels such as the fictitious interior of the castle of Clochegourde or the cabinet of Derville described in Le Colonel Chabert.
In all, the Château de Saché has a collection of more than 2,300 works, including some sculptures by Auguste Rodin!
However, when you visit it, it is above all Balzac's intimacy that you feel you are meeting; the charm, calm and serenity that he so particularly appreciated are still there, intact.
To find out more about the place.
Bérengère for Comme des Français
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