The spiral grand staircase
In late 14th century in France, the staircase became a feature of prestige, defining the residence and providing inhabitants and guests with access to the reception rooms, which were usually upstairs.
This staircase leads up to many different unfurnished parts of the Château dedicated to contemporary art, including the former bedroom of Princess Henri-Amédée de Broglie, now an art gallery, as well as the Digital Gallery on the east wing’s top floor.
Heraldic stained-glass windows
The windows are decorated with heraldic coats of arms in stained-glass, made by master-glassmaker Georges Bardon for the Broglie family. They depict the various families who have owned the Domain of Chaumont with, at the top of the staircase, the de Broglie family’s coat of arms. The empty shields were intended for future heirs, but the State-initiated compulsory purchase proceedings against her Royal Highness the Princess of Orléans and Bourbon, whose first husband was Prince Henri-Amédée de Broglie, prohibited her children from decorating these shields with their own coat of arms.
