Antechamber

Mysterious paintings

Although the figures depicted on the woodwork are not identified, there are a few clues as to their social status, particularly the women: they are wearing jewellery, and their hair and clothes are in the style of 17th-century court ladies. In one of the medallions, you can make out the neck of a musical instrument. It could be a lute or a theorbo, a kind of long-necked guitar, both of which were highly prized instruments at court under Louis XIV.

Trompe-l'oeil doors

The woodwork that adorns the walls of this room is unique in that it is trompe-l'œil. The doors are painted and carved to blend in with the decor of the room, disappearing when closed. If you can still admire them today, it's because they survived the terrible fire of 1968, but not without some damage: the extreme heat, soot, ashes and water from the fire brigade damaged some of them. Look carefully! There's a secret door hidden away, leading to the 1st floor? Like all great castles, Hautefort has its secret passages!