Where Paris - 01 December 2017

80 WHERE Paris i deceMBer 2017

arts&attractions

Day Trip

Château de Champs-sur-Marne © Laure Maitre - Centre des Monuments Nationaux - Photo de Presse; Château de Champs-sur-Marne © Patrick Cadet - Centre des Monuments Nationaux - Photo de Presse

J

ust 30 minutes east of Paris sit the elegant castle and gardens of

champs-sur-Marne. an ode to the lovely lifestyle of the 18th century,

its illustrious inhabitants have included the Marquise de Pompadour

and the Princess of conti. it houses exceptional interior decors and

furnishings, a reflection of its prestigious history for celebrated guests

would visit this castle including diderot, alembert and Voltaire. The

85-hectare park is one of the first mixed style gardens with its 900-metre

perspective punctuated by two ornamental ponds forming the formal

French part of the gardens while wide english-style landscaped areas

form the backdrop replete with woodlands. champs-sur-Marne is part

of the network of the centre des Monuments Nationaux (The centre of

French National Monuments).

The castle is hosting an exhibition, which is taking place within the

context of the Franco-russian cultural tourism year inaugurated in 2016,

on the tableware emanating from the 18th century palace of Kuskovo

outside of Moscow, taking visitors on a journey into the table arts

atmosphere of the imperial court of russia and russian dining traditions.

The palace of Kuskovo is a monument that is characteristic of the art of

the 18th century and one of the first examples of the russian summer

residences. Built for the counts of sheremetev, it was destined for

sumptuous receptions, theatrical fêtes and myriad festivities. Today, the

domain is made up of a vast manor house and more than 20 extravagant,

decorative outbuildings all ensconced in a French-style garden enhanced

with marble sculptures, ponds and ornamental pavilions.

On show in the dining room at the château of champs-sur-Marne is part

of the everyday table service that belonged to the empress catherine ii

and which is made up of 126 pieces of porcelain and glass, fashioned at

the imperial Porcelain Manufactory of saint-Petersburg between 1770

and 1790, and was used for the empress’s daily dinners and parties. The

exhibition also presents objects that were conceived for specific dishes

like the covered dishes for soup, vegetable purées and meats.

Glass played an important role in the tableware of the imperial table and

there was a specific type of glass for each beverage. Wine for example

was served in decorated glasses and carafes while kvas (a beverage

made from the yeast of black bread), honey and beer were served from

porcelain carafes. Pieces in silverware emanating from the collections

of the centre des Monuments Nationaux as well as a private collection

complete the ensemble on display.

exhibition from december 9th through to March 15th, 2018

10am-12:15pm & 1:30pm -5pm, last tickets 30 minutes before closing.

closed Tuesdays.

31 rue de Paris, 77420 Champs-sur-Marne, 01 65 05 21 63

http://www.chateau-champs-sur-marne.fr

Dining with the Tsars at the

Château of Champs-sur-Marne