Château d'Anet

A jewel of French Renaissance architecture built by Philippe l'Orme, humanist and architect of Henri II. The castle of Diane of Poitiers, it is a masterpiece.

Considered to be a gem from the French Renaissance and a hotspot for art, the château d'Anet was built in 1548 by King Henri II for his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. The greatest artists of that era helped build it, including Philibert de l'Orme, architect and humanist of the Renaissance period, well known for his anti-Italianism and his interpretation of antiquity. Diane's magnificent chateau is located on the estate, and all that remains today is one wing, the royal chapel with its Greek-cross plan - an original masterpiece with its grid-pattern trompe l'oeil - the impressive gate on which there is an interesting clock which shows the phases of the Moon, and the funeral chapel where Diane now rests in peace, since 29th May 2010.