A. Château de Thoiry
Activities

In 1559, Raoul Moreau's quest was far from ordinary, and resulted in an astonishing creation. Treasurer of the King of France, a man of wealth, and also an alchemist, he did not find the Philosopher's Stone, but the ideal place to conduct his esotèric research.

Thoiry's site, a small hill, surrounded by hills of the same height and equidistant, corresponded to his vision. The location united the characteristics necessary to harness the forces of heaven and earth. Moreau knew that the telluric forces were magnified at this point by the magnetic fault running from Chartres to Amiens thereby creating the vital ambiance for his esoteric studies...

The great Renaissance architect, Philibert de L'Orme, with the master mason, Olivier Imbert, using the Golden Mean, the Divine Proportion, constructed a rare esoteric architectural monument in perfect harmony with the forces of Nature and the Sun's course. Perfectly placed in Time and Space, the Chateau appears to be a transparent bridge of light, in whose central arch, the Grand Vestible, the sun seems to rise or set following the summer and winter solstices, creating with its LeNôtre parterres a vast solar calendar on landscape scale. Built to favorise happiness, spirituel harmony and good health, the château is the essence of the occidental equivalent of Feng Shui.

For over 430 years, the sixteen following generations of the La Panouse family have preserved this part of eternity, a man's secret dream revealed only to those whose vision goes beyond appearances. And, although it took over 400 years to unite Thoiry's 1200 acres into a unique estate, an instant enchantment carries you away to another world.

Member of:

Europa Nostra

EAZA

Maison de la France

Club Châteaux Musées et Monuments

Assn des Parcs et Jardins de France

Société Nationale d’Horticulture Française

Assn des Parcs Botaniques de France

SNELAC

Assn des Jardins des Yvelines

Comité Régionale du Tourisme de Ile de France

Comité Départmentale du Tourisme des Yvelines

Office du Tourisme de Paris

Office du Tourisme du Mantois