Jean du Thiers

Who was Jean du Thiers?

Jean de Thiers, seigneur de Beauvoir was Minister of Finance for Henry II of France, and a Secretary of State.

He was a great humanist and protector of the poet Joachim du Bellay and Pierre de Ronsard.

He bought Château de Beauregard, Loire Valley, in 1545, for 2,000 gold ecus. Jean de Thiers was the real builder of the castle. He incorporated the old house in the new building and built in Renaissance style, the central gallery which connected the two buildings.

From 1553, he appealed to many foreign artists who were working for King Henry II. The painter Nicolò dell'Abbate decorated with frescoes. Francesco Scibec da Carpi carved woodwork of the study, "the Cabinet of Jingle Bells" at the foot of the windows of the south wing. He showed a collections of rare plants.