This website requires JavaScript.

Ratilly castle, la Grande Mademoiselle's desert

The Grande Mademoiselle | Public domain
Castle Grande Mademoiselle Ratilly castle

Well, we know this lady! We met her in the neighbouring castle of St-Fargeau, do you remember? I mean of course the Grande Mademoiselle, Louis XIV’s famous cousin!

She was Anne-Marie-Louise d’Orléans, exiled here in Burgundy by cardinal Mazarin because she made a mess during the Fronde rebellion: the naughty one shot on royal troops with cannons of Bastille stronghold!

So, in 1652, she came in St-Fargeau in exile. She get soooo bored and tried to bring together a small court. But it wasn’t the same!

So in 1653, she left St-Fargeau after the death of one of her lady-in-waiting, countess de Fiesques.

So she turned up in Ratilly, and, according to her Memories, it was as gloomy as in St-Fargeau: “The house is so small, so I host few people. I have no carriage here. I go to the Mass every morning by foot, which is a pretty long road! I hunt hares with the greyhounds belonging to local gentlemen.” Whoa, that’s a good start!

About the the author

Vinaigrette
I'm fond of strolls and History, with juicy and spicy details!