The bedroom in the 17th century

Borrowed from the Latin "camera" meaning "room", the bedroom in the 17th century was a room for representation and reception. It did not have the intimate dimension we know today. It was not until the 18th century that the term "bedroom" appeared, giving it the essential function of sleeping.

Cordoba leathers

The wood panelling in this room frames genuine 17th-century Cordoba leather. The leather is embossed and gilded, revealing elegant Arabesque colours ranging from almond green to black. The technique used to make Cordoba leather first appeared in Spain in the 9th century, in the city of the same name, before spreading to the rest of the continent. Cordoba leathers appeared in the finest European homes right up to the end of the 18th century. The leather in the Marquis's bedroom is particularly intricate, having been damaged by fire in 1968. They were restored in 2025.

The Marquis's bed

In the 17th century, the bed was a key element in bedroom design. Particular attention was paid to the choice of fabrics to cover the wooden frame. Their finesse reflects the importance of the master of the house. In this case, the damask fabric was used for the moulded-fringe bedspread, the mantling and panelling that covered the top and bottom of the bed, and the curtains that were characteristic of a four-poster bed. The curtains were closed at night to keep the heat in, and half-open during the day to ensure the privacy of the master of the house when he received guests in his room.