Photo : CPA domaine public / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Château des Vaux
The Vaux estate, in the Eure-et-Loir, extends over two communes: Saint-Maurice-Saint-Germain and, mainly, Pontgouin. The original 17th-century château only took on its present appearance between 1850 and 1880, thanks to the Marquis Étienne de Pommereu d'Aligre, who had the course of the Eure diverted, the ground levelled to create terraces and a park planted. It was said that there were two châteaux at Les Vaux, one for people and one for horses, so splendid were the outbuildings and stables.
The estate remained in the d'Aligre family until 1889. In 1946 it was bought, for the price of two postage stamps, by Father Brottier for the Apprentis d'Auteuil orphan charity. Since then young people have come here to learn a trade. The château now has more than three hundred rooms. It is a private estate; the park is open to visitors.
