The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-05
OLD FRENCH EDIFICE.
The Ancient Chateau Of
Biois.
Architecture Of Five Centuries Rep
resented
=. - 0-AI
Relics in Home of Gath
crime de Medici.
The Castle Of Chaumont and Its
History.
tcorresponaeneeI Of One press.l

Correspondence VI ttio IItc1.J
Basic switzerland, May 10.
The Chateau of Blois is one OF the finest
and by far the most elaborate Of all the
royal residences Of that part Of France.
1t was for a long time used as barracks
for soldiers but was afterwards greatly
restored. In place of the pictures and
tapestries destroyed at the time Of the
Revolution, there are frescoes and hang
ings in the same designs.
When you step into the elabora te court
around which all the wings centre, you
catch the splendid rhythm Of the French
Renaissance. The castle is built high
over the town with nothing on its level
except part Of the old garden Of Henry
I'LL, which was connected to the chateau
by a drawbridge; while below, the rem
nants of the ancient garden of Catherine
di Medici, which formerly extended for
miles, now form the city park. From 1t
an abundance Of light verdure creeps up
and beauties the foundation of the castle.
This splendid edifice represents the
architecture Of five centuries, commence
ing with the Tour DIES Oubliettes and
Sale DIES Etats, which date from the
18th century. The chapel of thu l4th
century is connected by passage to the
royal apartments. The ceiling Of this Is
beautifully frescoed in its original colors
with wall embellished in imitation of
the old tapestries. The acoustic proper
ties of this chapel are gu lite remarkable.
When the guide shouted 1t was as though
there was an army in the skies respond
ing to battle-call; and when the door
shut heavily the echo was like a tremen-
dous peal Of thunder.
1t is fortunate that any of this old
castle remains; since after Louis XIII.
gave 1t to his brother CASTOR Of Orleans
and Count of Blois, the latter was seized
with the idea Of tearing down the whole
ediflce and building another under the
direction Of the Architect Mansard, in
the style of the 18th century. CASTOR
was blunderer' and had no appreciation
r of the light gracefulness of the sculptured
embroidery which predominates in the
Francis 1. and Louis XII. wings. But
the fates which watch over all the i'm
perishable structures of the Old World
had kindly interest in this old relic, and
so, before CASTOR ihad demolished one
wing and completed even the sculptures
on the ceilings Of the new, Providence
called him to his account, and in many
places around the staircase only sketches
are-left in the woodw ork and stone of
what he had intended to do.
The front of the Louis XII. wing is Of
red brick crossed here and there with
purple, and the high slate roof of the
same color is relieved with beautifully
carved stone chimneys capped with EN-
broidered pinnacles and arches, while the
porcupine of Louis and the ermine and
festooned rope of Anne of Brittany his
the large Council Hall of the Louis XII.
building there are fine tapestries embroid-
cred in The design of the 'fieur-de-lis,
which are of two distinct characteristic
Bourbon and the Valois. The latter is
the one with which we are most familiar
and is far the more graceful.
Henry James says that the Francis 1.
wing is the most joyous utterance Of the
French Renaissance and that its en-
broidery Of sculpture is worthy Of the
goldsmith's hand. This Is decidedly in
the flamboyant style and is loaded with
beautiful carvings wrought in the great
est accord, so that although no two de-
signs are alike, they all harmonic. The
salamander, which Is the emblem Of
Francis l., and his crowned initials are
used very freely, while the hedgehog, the
badge of Louis XII. decorates other parts
of the building. The emblematic conch
shell is also used in the cornices and curl
ously represented in the grand spiral
staircase which, opening as 1t ascends.
represents this beautiful shell. The or
namentation Of this staircase is one of
the principal artistic features of the
Francis /. wing. In inches on the out
side of it are the statues of Youth, Peace
and Friendship, all having the clear-cut
features Of Diane de Poitiers. After the
murder of the Guises the castle fell into
disfayor.
The history Of the assassination Of the
Dukes of Guise is far too long and too
detailed to relate. Henry, called Baifare
the Scared, and Cardinal de Guise were
a part of the retinue of Henry III, and
had their residence in the palace with
the rest of the court. The King feared
that their increasing power was threat
ening his throne, but since they were on
intimate terms, the execution of the plot
had to be carried out with great tact.
They were very strong physically. and no
one dared to meet them in open fight,
and so the first blow had to be struck
from behind. Henry III. was not only
anxious for the thorough accomplishment
of the dssd, but he was determined to
witness 1t; and accordingly he hid behind