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Château de Meudon facts for kids

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The Château de Meudon was once a grand royal palace in France. It was a special home for important people, especially the Grand Dauphin, who was the only son of King Louis XIV. He made it his own personal residence.

After the Dauphin passed away, the château went back to the royal family. It was used by the famous Duchess of Berry, who was a granddaughter of Louis XIV. Later, under Kings Louis XV and Louis XVI, the palace was not used as much.

However, in 1812, it became the official home of the King of Rome, who was Napoleon's son. Jérôme Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother, also lived there during the First Empire. Sadly, the main building was mostly destroyed by a big fire in 1871. Today, the site is home to the Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, which is a famous observatory.

Restitution grande perspective
Computor generated image of the building as it would have appeared during the lifetime of the Grand Dauphin.

The Story of Meudon Palace

Early Days of the Château

The story of the Château de Meudon began with a small manor house. This house was given to the Duchess of Étampes, who was a close friend of King Francis I. Around 1540, the building was updated. It was then given to the Cardinal de Lorraine.

After the Cardinal died in 1574, the property belonged to the House of Guise until 1654. Later, in 1679, the château was sold to Louvois. He was an important minister for King Louis XIV. Louvois worked hard to make the palace and its surroundings even better. He hired André Le Nôtre, a famous garden designer. Le Nôtre created amazing gardens and fountains. These fountains were fed by clever water systems.

The Grand Dauphin's Home

In June 1695, King Louis XIV bought Meudon. He wanted it to be the home for his only son, the Grand Dauphin. This was a very special time for the château. The Dauphin hired Jules Hardouin-Mansart, a famous architect. He helped make the palace even more beautiful.

After the Grand Dauphin died, his son, Louis, Duke of Burgundy, used the property for a short time. Then, in 1718, it was given to the Duchess of Berry.

Later Royal Use and Decline

King Louis XV used Meudon mainly for hunting. Even though his friend, Madame de Pompadour, lived nearby at the Château de Bellevue, Louis XV preferred another palace called Château de Choisy. Because of this, Meudon became less important.

Under King Louis XVI, the château declined even more. The beautiful gardens became overgrown, and the fountains were empty. Parts of the park were even rented out to farmers.

The Fire of 1871

In 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, the terraces of Meudon were used to defend Paris. The château was damaged by bombs. Prussian soldiers then took over the palace. Just two days after the war ended in January 1871, a fire started at Meudon. It burned for three days. After the fire, only some of the outside walls were left standing.

Today, the site of the former royal palace is home to the Observatoire de Paris-Meudon.

People Who Lived at Meudon

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Palacio de Meudon para niños

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