Paul de Noailles, the visionary restorer of the castle of Maintenon

The castle of Maintenon owes much to the action of one man: Paul de Noailles (1802-1885). Heir of the estate and true historian, he was, in the 19th century, one of the first to undertake the architectural renaissance of the castle.

From the end of the 1820s, he engaged in a major project to modernize and restore Maintenon. He entrusts the direction of part of these works to Frédéric Nepveu, famous for having led the restoration of the Palace of Versailles, then to Henri Sirodot, a student of the latter.  Under his impetus, the castle was enriched with new apartments, a living room, a billiard room and a large gallery in the northeast wing. He also built an arched bridge linking the park to the castle and introduced golden leathers from Flanders of the eighteenth century in the interior decoration, reflecting his refined taste and his attachment to the art of his time. Visionary, Paul de Noailles also endowed the castle with modern comforts — running water and heating—around 1850-1860, transforming this historic residence into a more pleasant place to live.

But the work of Paul de Noailles does not stop there. Renowned scholar, he devoted several years to the writing of a vast biography entitled History of Madame de Maintenon and the main events of the reign of Louis XIV. This work of historian earned him to be elected to the French Academy, at the end of a memorable election where he wins against Honoré de Balzac. Through his writings and restorations, Paul de Noailles helped to revive the memory of Madame de Maintenon and preserve the prestige of the castle. Today, the Mansart Foundation and the Eure-et-Loir Departmental Council work together for the conservation and the opening to the public of this emblematic place of the French heritage.