Château de Navarre

The Château de Navarre was a château near Évreux in Normandy. The medieval structure was built for Queen Joan II of Navarre (wife of Count Philip of Évreux) and later came into the possession of the House of La Tour d'Auvergne. In 1750 a new Chateau was built, possibly incorporating part of the medieval structure and two towers dating from the seventeenth century. Built by a relative of the great marshal General of France Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne, the new building was created in the form of a cube surmounted by a large dome.

It was intended that a large statue of Marshal Turenne would be placed on top of the dome, but this never eventuated. The Chateau was burned down in 1834 and the remains were demolished two years later. The chateau was surrounded by the forest of Evreux, being part of the principality of Bearn. Joan and Antoine lived here during their rule. From there it passed on to other families and in 1810 became the home of Napoleon's ex-wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais, created Duchess of Navarre.

After Josephine, the Comte Roy, minister of Finance, gained possession of the property. It became the residences of the Duke of Bouillon and then later the...