Exterior view

Before 1630 Mansart had executed or modified three important buildings from which we can form some opinion of his early style and its sources. These are the façade of the church of the Feuillants in Paris (1623) and the châteaux of Berny (designed in 1623) and Balleroy (begun in the late 1620s).

In general character and materials the Château de Balleroy is like the country houses of Henry IV's time, and depends for its effect on its massive blocks, built of the rough, brownish-yellow local stone, with quoins and window-surrounds of dressed white stone. On the court side it depends on the simple relation of the three main blocks, which are almost in the same alignment, while on the garden side the central block breaks forward more markedly, leaving room for small terraces on either side.

The photo shows the north side of the château.

View the ground plan of the château.