The presence of a castle in Maintenon is attested since the 13th century but it is in the 17th century that this city located near Chartres becomes famous with the arrival of Madame de Maintenon, future wife of Louis XIV. Since then, it is one of the historical monuments of the Eure department attracting the most visitors every year.
Today managed by the departmental Council of Eure-et-Loir, the castle of Maintenon knew several owners but the most famous is incontestably Madame de Maintenon, the governess of the natural children of Louis XIV who, after the death of the Queen, married secretly the Sun King.
Quite a destiny for the one who was born... in prison! Her father, son of the poet Agrippa d'Aubigné, is indeed known for his turbulent destiny: murder of his first wife, accumulation of debts, suspicions of treason, abjuration of his Protestant faith... The ill-named Constant d'Aubigné and Jeanne de Cardilhac were in the royal prison of Niort when they gave birth to the future Queen of France in 1635.
This one, after a tumultuous childhood, meets the poet Paul Scarron (25 years older) who, in spite of her total absence of fortune, marries her with his nice words: "the future bride brings as dowry... two big mutinous eyes, a very beautiful bodice, a pair of beautiful hands and a lot of spirit". Widowed at 25, Françoise d'Aubigné rose to become the governess of the illegitimate children of the king and Mme de Montespan.
In 1674, thanks to the financial support of Louis XIV, Madame de Maintenon buys the whole estate: castle, lands, farms... and makes several extensions. It is also at this time that the construction (unfinished) of an aqueduct begins, the remains of which contribute today to the charm and the fame of the place.
But the castle is also known because :
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Valérie from Comme des Français
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