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The fief's story – loyalty, rebellion & demise

A visit that reveals the birth of modern France

The château that shelters the museum belonged to the Montmorencies, one of the kingdom's most powerful medieval families.

     

     

     

     

    • Their most illustrious leader

     

    Anne de Montmorency (1493-1567) fought eight major battles, 200 skirmishes and signed 100 treaties.

     

    When toward 1550 the king banished him for siding with the wrong cabal, he returned to his lands, but instead of rebelling, as other lords might, he transformed his dark and gloomy stronghold into a Renaissance showcase exulting in the taste of the new times.

     

     

    •  The château, which still has the feel of a fortress...

     

     
    "Anne": used for both genders. Our man was named after his godmother, Queen Anne of Brittany.
    The former fortress dominates the open plain.

    ...protected Paris's exposed northern frontier. Here for 800 years the family defended the capital, with brutality, courage and absolute loyalty. 

     

     

    • The chapel, which is a short drive away, is the place to tell their tale
    Fleurs de lys identify kingship
    Nine Montmorencies in foreground... two saints in background

    Kings of France and Montmorency ancestors, not Biblical figures, peer down at us. Under their gaze we tell the story of the last Montmorency, ,who alone is buried elsewhere. 

     

     

    • That his fate should be chosen to illustrate a children's history...

     

     

    By Maurice Leloir, famous at start of 20th century
    We show several of his illustrations.

    ...shows the importance of a drama that helped end nobles' independence and create Europe's most centralized State. 

     

     

    • Haven of peace

     

     

    Behind the trees, the abbey

    Swallows swoop through the ruins of the Cistercian abbey of Royaumont, which is about 10 miles from Montmorency. It is a Europe-known center for medieval music: a concert can conclude a summer excursion...

     

     

    Credits: Illustrations / Michel Loiret in T.Cahu,"Richelieu", 1901 (Loiret chose only the the most important subjects to illustrate a celebrated children's series on the History of France : for the interest of his drawings, please CLICK; photos / Claude Abron