Discover an overview of the most iconic rooms and suites at Château de Canisy.
Each one is decorated in a spirit faithful to its time, and pays tribute to either an illustrious ancestor of the Kergorlay family, a notable personality, or a major episode in history.
In the Empire Suite, the spirit of a grand bygone era resides amidst resplendent details and evokes the reign of Napoleon, first emperor of France, and his wife Josephine de Beauharnais, a cousin of the family of Countess Marie Christine. The bathroom is a faithful recreation of the former Hotel de Beauharnais in Paris.
The Polignac Suite celebrates the Restoration period and the Princess de Polignac, close friend of Marie Antoinette. The last prince Guy de Polignac, bailiff of the order of Malta, was a close friend of the de Kergorlay family and often stayed at the Chateau.
The Louis XVI Suite celebrates the final glories of the Ancien Régime through the history of the Kergorlay family, particularly the union of Louis-Gabriel de Kergorlay with Justine de Faudoas, which took place on the eve of the Revolution. Witnesses to a world in transition, objects, documents, and portraits from the period, including an engraving of Louis XVI signed by Adolphe François, invite reflection on the political and social upheavals of the late 18th century.
The Suite Faudoas embodies the discreet refinement and historical depth of the house of the same name, closely tied to the history of Château de Canisy. The furniture extends this atmosphere of authenticity: a reproduction of the four-poster bed of the Comtesse de Faudoas and solid oak furniture illustrate the taste of the time for the nobility of materials and the rigor of lines, in an aesthetic faithful to the codes of elegance of the 19th century. The bathroom features a remarkable copper bathtub, crafted in the traditional workshops of Villedieu-les-Poêles. This unique piece faithfully reproduces the “sabot” bathtub, made famous for being the one used by Marat, an iconic figure of the French Revolution.
The Art Deco Suite pays homage to the aesthetics of the 1920s–1930s through furniture with clean lines, stylized geometric shapes, and the use of noble materials such as lacquered wood, metal, or glass. The bathroom, inspired by that of a former foreign minister, exemplifies the functional sophistication of the era. The bed, in the spirit of Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, reflects the understated and balanced elegance of the movement.
The Mozart Suite opens onto a hushed atmosphere, inspired by the 18th century, in harmony with the castle’s Music Room to which it is attached. Its refined decor evokes the clarity and elegance of the Mozart universe. In contrast, the bathroom was renovated in the 20th century in a sleek style, combining contemporary comfort with respect for the heritage. This suite, a true haven of tranquility and artistic resonance, extends the spirit of the great classical masters.
The Joséphine de Beauharnais Suite, Empress of the French and former Queen of Italy, this suite pays tribute to her Creole elegance and extraordinary destiny. The decor is inspired by the Empire style, notably through a Napoleonic chair symbolizing imperial grandeur. A discreet but significant connection links this room to the Kergorlay family, through a cousin of the Percin family, a former close friend of Josephine. Thus, imperial history, refined Caribbean culture, and Napoleonic symbols intertwine in a unique setting at the Château de Canisy.
The Queen Hortense Suite, one of the oldest in the château, pays tribute to Hortense de Beauharnais, daughter of Joséphine and queen consort of Holland. His artistic spirit permeates the soft atmosphere of the room, where refinement, gentleness, and sensitivity come together. The adjoining bathroom, designed between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is adorned with spiritual symbols, echoing the inner depth and intimate dimension of this great imperial figure.
The Marquis de Montcalm Room pays tribute to Louis-Joseph de Montcalm (1712–1759), a distinguished French officer and in-law of the Kergorlay family. A hero of the Seven Years’ War, he is remembered for his final defense of Quebec against the British. The suite’s décor blends rigor and elegance: solid oak paneling, understated military-inspired furniture, and fabrics with deep tones evoke the spirit of honor and the tragic fate of the commander in New France. This room perpetuates the memory of a man of courage, in resonance with the historical commitment of the family line in the affairs of the kingdom and overseas.
The Paul and Virginie Room Inspired by Bernardin de Saint-Pierre’s novel, the Paul and Virginie Suite evokes, through its décor, the gentle vegetation and island exoticism dear to the pre-Romantic imagination. The light furniture, natural colors, and floral patterns evoke the sensitive world of the narrative, blending innocence, nature, and emotion. This suite offers a setting conducive to daydreaming and contemplation, in the delicate and poetic spirit of the late 18th century.
The Percin Canon Room pays tribute to an ancestor of the Percin family who was involved in the colonial conflicts of the 18th century. His role in the Battle of Acajou, marked by tensions between independentist planters and monarchist aristocrats, testifies to his commitment to the ideals of liberty. This room, through its simple and evocative decorative elements, perpetuates the memory of a lineage in which military commitment is coupled with reflection on the major political and colonial struggles of the time.
The Marquise Room pays tribute to Jeanne-Louise-Henriette Campan (1752–1822), a woman of letters and lady-in-waiting to Marie-Antoinette. A privileged witness of the court of Versailles, she embodies elegance and fidelity in a world in decline. She was rescued from the Revolution by Madame Tallien and devoted her life to education by founding a school for young girls from the exiled nobility. The refined decor of the room, inspired by the 18th century, delicately evokes the memory of a woman admirably rooted in the history of France and in affinity with the values of the Kergorlay family.
The Marie-Antoinette Room pays tribute to the archduchess who became the Queen of France, an iconic figure of the refinement and drama of the Ancien Régime. The décor, inspired by the elegance of Versailles, evokes the grace and fragility of a sovereign confronted with the turmoil of her time. In connection with the family history, this room illustrates the loyalty of the Kergorlay family to the monarchy, while also recalling the broken fate of the one who embodies, more than any other, the splendor and fall of a lost world.
The Arthur Dillon Room pays tribute to Arthur Dillon, an Irish-born officer in the service of France, who was connected to the family of the château. His career illustrates the military commitments of the Ancien Régime, between monarchical loyalty and participation in founding events such as the American War of Independence. The décor evokes both the elegance of the 18th century and the transatlantic legacy of a man who fell victim to the Revolution for defending his convictions without renouncing the ideal of order.
The Romantic Room pays tribute to the artistic movement of Romanticism, between the exaltation of emotions, the quest for the absolute, and the contemplation of nature. Inspired by the figures of Victor Hugo, Caspar David Friedrich, and Lord Byron, it evokes a deep and melancholic sensitivity. Its cozy and poetic decor invites you to daydream, in a setting where the art of living becomes a whisper of the soul.
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