Domaine royal de Randan

In 1821, Louis-Philippe d'Orléans and his sister Adélaïde acquired the former duchy of Randan and set about restoring it as a holiday resort. From then on, the estate's destiny was linked to that of the French royal family. From 1822 to 1847, architect Pierre François Léonard Fontaine oversaw the development of the estate, enlarging the château, building outbuildings and creating a vast landscaped park. The work carried out reflects the innovations of the first half of the 19th century. After the fall of the July monarchy (1848) and the exile of the d'Orléans family, the Domaine de Randan fell into a deep slumber. It was brought back to life by Isabelle d'Orléans, Countess of Paris (1848-1919). Fascinated by "her beloved Randan", she renovated it and all the comforts of the Belle Époque. On her death, her son Ferdinand d'Orléans made it his principal residence. In the château, he created a hunting museum featuring 450 animals hunted on his travels around the world and naturalized by the greatest taxidermist of his time, Rowland Ward. In 1925, a fire at the château marked the decline of the estate, which closed its gates and fell into oblivion. In 1999, the site was saved from dismantling thanks to the mobilization of local authorities and the French State, which acquired the estate and its collections. In 2003, the Regional Council became the sole owner of the site, opening it to the public and continuing the restoration of this important heritage site, listed as a Historic Monument and awarded the "Remarkable Garden" label. VISITS Two guided tours included with admission: Discovery of the estate: history, remains of the château, orangery, greenhouses, chapel, kitchens. Duration: 1 hr. Discovery of the "Ferdinand's Animals" exhibition: Exceptional collection of naturalized animals, unique in Europe, presented in dioramas. Duration: 45 minutes. Self-guided tour: Enjoy the park for a stroll. Picnics possible during opening hours. Dogs on leash permitted, outdoors only.