The former Château de Neuilly is a little-known place in the heart of the city. Extensively enlarged in the 19th century, it was home to Louis Philippe and his family, when he was the last king of France.
Much of the château was destroyed and ravaged after its fall in 1848.
After several other functions, the Sisters of Saint Thomas de Villeneuve acquired the premises.
The property and gardens are much smaller than they were in the 19th century. But they offer a fine visit, with historic rooms, a large private garden and a church containing the famous Black Madonna.
The Chateau de Neuilly and the Black Madonna
Description
Practical Information:
– Meeting point: Métro Pont de Neuilly
– Duration: 2h
– on foot
– Private group rate: 300€ TTC up to 20 people / 350€ TTC up to 25 people
Located in Neuilly-sur-Seine, the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Thomas de Villeneuve offers a rich and little-known history in a surprising location. The building is nestled in a green setting comprising a former wing of the Château de Neuilly, which belonged to Louis Philippe d’Orléans, King of France in 1830. A few years earlier, Napoleon had given the château as a gift to his sister, Princess Pauline Borghese.
During the Revolution of 1848, the château was stormed and looted, and two-thirds of it was destroyed. The park also lost much of its surface area.
The remaining wing is now occupied by the sisters, but other buildings were added when the congregation moved in. Today, it’s the mother house, welcoming visitors from communities all over the world.
These include the apartments of Madame Adélaïde, sister of Louis Philippe. The main room, filled with portraits and memorabilia, is used for important acts and meetings.
The main feature of the site is the Notre-Dame de Bonne Espérance chapel, known to the faithful for its magnificent 14th-century Black Madonna.
Finally, there is a magnificent and unexpected garden, usually inaccessible to the outside public.
A sale of products (postcards, books, statuettes, etc.) is available at the end of the tour.
The meeting point is at the Pont de Neuilly metro station exit (exit 1).
