Château Lafayette, Haute-Loire

rose gardens and chateau

We spent a pleasant Sunday afternoon visiting one of the few chateau open to the public locally. Château Lafayette originally constructed in the fourteenth century, was the home of a hero of the American and French revolutions, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, better known as Marquis de Lafayette.

Often known simply as Lafayette, he was a French aristocrat and military officer who fought for the United States in the American Revolutionary War. A close friend of George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson, Lafayette was a key figure in the French Revolution of 1789 and the July Revolution of 1830. Wikipedia

In the early twentieth century a group of wealthy philanthropists led by Scottish-born American industrialist John C. Moffat purchased the castle to serve as a centre of philanthropy for people affected by World War One. Following the war he renovated it completely to preserve documents and objects relating to General Lafayette. In a photograph in the chateau welcome area Moffat can be seen teeing off in plus fours in front of the chateau gardens!

We didn’t visit the interior, which we suspect may be slightly dull… however we spent a good hour or so wandering around the gardens. It’s a work in progress as the state have only recently taken over the running of the chateau and are committed to numerous improvements to both the house and garden. We shall definitely be visiting again later in the year when the rose garden in particular will be in full bloom.