The Bellevue Castle (map)

This Castle was the only one built by Madame de Pompadour, her other residences were acquirements and locations.
It is placed among the hills between Sévres and Meudon and looks the river Seine.
In 1757 she sold the castle to the King and his daughters took refugee there during the revolution, 15 October 1789.

Concerning Bellevue, the field had been broken to pieces since the Restoration (and not the Revolution) by successive speculations. Today only some vestiges remain of that domain, all situated in the commune of Meudon: rue Basse-de-la-Terrasse, allée Pompadour, route des Gardes.

However, there is an almost whole piece of the Pompadour’s era. It is the aforesaid "Petit-Bellevue". This house was built in 1748 according to Pompadour’s plans and given in possession to its maître hôtel.
Then, in 1775 Mesdames gave it to Billaudel, the Intendant of the Royal Building Industries.
In 1785, Mesdames recovered this property, which has gone through the two centuries without too much problems. In 1922, Abel Lefranc, professor at the College of France, acquired this domain that has been his family’s property since then. The entry to this residence is located at 59 route des Gardes in Meudon. At 61 there is the old building of the Guards of the King, which originated the name of this street.

An enormous treasure of art was lost with the destruction of the Castle. The most beautiful furniture in the world, the most beautiful porcelains, the panels painted by some genius of that time, the most refined sculptures, carpets, silvery sets, paintings, precious books. The economical value is immense.