Formerly a Pavillon des Eaux, this residence was the property of Louis XV’s favourite, the Comtesse du Barry, who lived there from 1769 to 1795.  Now a private property, it is only opened to visitors on rare occasions.

It was in this house that, under Louis XIV, the governor of the Machine de Marly, Arnold de Ville, lived, hence the name Pavillon des Eaux (water pavilion).  When Arnold de Ville left France in 1708, his home became the property of the Crown, and the owners went on to gradually enlarge the pavilion, eventually turning it into a small château.

In 1769, Louis XV decided to install his favourite, Comtesse du Barry, in the château.  No sooner had she arrived, she brought in Jacques Ange Gabriel to look over the building and plan improvements.

Just some of the changes made included building a greenhouse, an orangery, a music pavilion to receive guests, a Doric temple, and an ice house, as well as diverting the flow of the river.  The improvements undertaken by Madame du Barry made the château worthy of the name.

When in 1791 her home was burgled and her jewels found in London, Madame du Barry made a number of trips to England, which led to her being suspected by the Revolutionaries.  She was sent to the guillotine two years later, on 8 December 1793.

The estate was later sold, broken up and sometimes poorly maintained by its various subsequent owners.  Today, the estate is divided into two properties, the Pavillon de Musique (music pavilion) and the Barry château.

These two sites are open to the public to visit on rare occasions.  To find out these dates, please go to the calendar and Pavillon de Musique programme.