Is the château de la Ferté-Vidame still standing?

The main château survives only as ruins following its demolition after the Revolution, while the petit château, the former outbuilding, remained intact.

Why is the château in ruins?

Sold after the Revolution to an indebted owner, it was stripped of its building materials, roofing and woodwork for resale, which explains the current state of the façades.

Can the park of the château be visited?

The park, itself a listed historic monument, surrounds the ruins and the petit château, with its avenues, ponds and pavilions.

Château de La Ferté-Vidame

Ferté-Vidame Castle

La Ferté-Vidame

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Where: La Ferté-Vidame

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Château de la Ferté-Vidame stands in La Ferté-Vidame (Eure-et-Loir), in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. The building is listed as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: 17th century, third quarter of the 18th century, 19th century). Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

At La Ferté-Vidame, in the Eure-et-Loir department, visitors encounter not an intact château but the remains of one of eighteenth-century France's largest houses. Built for the banker Jean-Joseph Laborde by architect Antoine Le Carpentier, the grand classical residence was stripped of its stone and roofs after the Revolution, leaving open façades and window openings that still trace the original layout. Nearby stands the petit château, once the stables commissioned by the Duke of Saint-Simon, which survived intact and can be toured in a far more complete state. A French-style park, later redesigned, surrounds both parts of the estate.

Written from Château de la Ferté-Vidame

What to know

The site combines open-air ruins of the grand château with the petit château, the outbuilding that remained standing.
The estate has belonged to the Eure-et-Loir departmental council since 1987, following its purchase for preservation.
The listed monument also includes a French-style park with avenues, ponds and garden pavilions.
Visiting the ruins involves walking outdoors on uneven ground, as the site has remained in a ruined state since the Revolution.

Practical information

Opening hours

Monday	09:00-19:00
Tuesday	09:00-19:00
Wednesday	09:00-19:00
Thursday	09:00-19:00
Friday	09:00-19:00
Saturday	09:00-19:00
Sunday (today)	09:00-19:00

Opening hours published by the château on its Google listing. We have not yet confirmed them on its official website.

Visit duration: Not verified
Wheelchair access: Not verified
Dogs: Not verified
Parking: Not verified

Where this château is

La Ferté-Vidame · Eure-et-Loir · Centre-Val de Loire

Map of the area around Château de la Ferté-Vidame

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Pl. du Vieux Marché, 28340 La Ferté-Vidame

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Château phone number

+33 2 37 37 68 59

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The safest check before setting off: today’s hours, guided-tour availability, where to park.

4.5 / 5from 677 Google reviews

Heritage status: Listed historic monument (classé); Mérimée record PA00097106
Period of construction: 17th century, third quarter of the 18th century, 19th century

In pictures

Frequently asked

Is the château de la Ferté-Vidame still standing?: The main château survives only as ruins following its demolition after the Revolution, while the petit château, the former outbuilding, remained intact.
Who built the château de la Ferté-Vidame?: The eighteenth-century classical building was erected for banker Jean-Joseph Laborde by architect Antoine Le Carpentier, on the site of an earlier château belonging to the Saint-Simon family.
Why is the château in ruins?: Sold after the Revolution to an indebted owner, it was stripped of its building materials, roofing and woodwork for resale, which explains the current state of the façades.
Can the park of the château be visited?: The park, itself a listed historic monument, surrounds the ruins and the petit château, with its avenues, ponds and pavilions.