Built at the beginning of the 18th century, the chateau was owned by a financier of Louis XIV, Paul Poisson de Bourvallais, then by princess de Conti and the dukes of Vallière. The marquise de Pompadour rented it for a time. Classical exterior, wood-panelling in Regency style, rock garden and the famous 'Chinese salon' and 'blue boudoir' both by Christophe Huet; it has a wonderful collection of period furniture, 18th-century paintings and objects from the 'Compagnie des Indes'. The chateau is surrounded by an 85-hectare park, one of the finest in France; it combines the character of both the English- and French-style garden. In the past, it has been the residence for foreign heads of state on offical visits to France; today, it is part of the Ministry of Culture and the 'Centre des Monuments Nationaux'. The chateau is temporarily closed for security reasons from 21/09/2006 until further notice. The park is still open to visitors.