Château de Chavaniac

Coordinates: 45°09′26″N 3°34′45″E / 45.15722°N 3.57917°E / 45.15722; 3.57917
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Le Château in August 2011

The Château de Chavaniac aka Chateau Lafayette

Auvergne province
, France.

Flanked by two towers of black stone, it was built in the 14th century and was the birthplace of

General Lafayette
in 1757.

In 1916, a group of wealthy

philanthropists led by Scottish-born American industrialist John C. Moffat purchased the castle to serve as a center of philanthropy for people affected by World War I.[4]
Following the war he renovated it completely to preserve documents and objects relating to General Lafayette.

The Château de Chavaniac is now a museum open to the public.

History

The central tower and gardens at Château de Chavaniac in July 2017

The Château de Chavaniac was constructed in the 14th century.

It was partially destroyed by a fire in 1701.

French Republic
when Lafayette fled the country. His aunt later bought the château.

In December 1916, a group of philanthropists led by John C. Moffat, and including

Beatrice Ashley Chanler.[6][7][8]

Parts of the château were used as a school, an orphanage [9] and a hospital,[10] known as the Lafayette Preventorium, until 1920, supported by funds from 150,000 donors. During the post-war period, the château was extensively renovated and furnished with memorabilia from Lafayette and other period pieces. The roof was redone, foundations were stabilized, a tower was rebuilt and the south wing was built in the rear with a square tower. During World War II the château was used as a secret hiding place for Jewish children.[5]

John Moffat died in 1966 and was buried with his wife on the grounds of château.

Conseil Général de la Haute-Loire took over management of the château and repaired the roof.[5]

The French and American flags fly permanently over the château in honor of the key role Lafayette played in the French and American revolutions.[5]

Architecture

The Château de Chavaniac framed by two towers of black rock from Auvergne was constructed in the 14th century. The château and the interior decoration were listed as historic monuments by France on August 21, 1989.[11]

In the entrance one finds a great staircase, a gallery with painted murals, a Louis XIII dining room, and a guardroom. The first floor has a grand salon, a library, and the family's bedrooms. The second floor has a great hall and the master bedroom with a bathroom and a sauna. The Franco-American friendship room is found on the fourth floor.

See also

References

  1. ^ Annual Report of the Work in France of the French Heroes Lafayette Memorial Fund, Inc. 1919.
  2. ^ International, Rotary (August 1981). The Rotarian. Rotary International.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. ^ de), Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier Lafayette (marquis; de), Georges Washington Louis Gilbert Du Motier Lafayette (marquis; Allyn, Francis (1925). Lafayette letters. Harlow Publishing Co.
  4. ^ "Americans buy Lafayette's Home," The Sacred Heart Review, Volume 57, Number 4, 6 January 1917, p. 3.
  5. ^ a b c d e Lafayette Memorial: French Heroes Lafayette Memorial Fund
  6. ^ Thomas, Lately. The Astor Orphans: A Pride of Lions, W. Morrow, 1971.
  7. ^ Albert Bushnell Hart, Harper's Pictorial Library of the World War, Volume 7, Harper, 1920; p. 110.
  8. William Astor Chanler
    Tells of Work Done Through Lafayette Fund;" The Philadelphia Inquirer; 8-04-1918; Vol. 179, Issue: 35; p. 11, Philadelphia, PA.
  9. ^ Orphanage - School of Chavaniac
  10. ^ Lafayette Preventorium
  11. ^ Base Mérimée: PA00092922, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French) Château de Chavaniac

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Château de Chavaniac.

45°09′26″N 3°34′45″E / 45.15722°N 3.57917°E / 45.15722; 3.57917

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