La colonne

A fluted stone column rises from the gardens of Château Ridel, topped by a weathered bust that has watched over the grounds for generations. It marks the site where the nineteenth century salon of Monsieur Ridel once flourished. Artists, politicians, and writers gathered here to debate the shifting politics of the era. While the château itself underwent many changes, the column remained. It stayed in place when the estate grounds were subdivided, surviving as a lone witness to the salon culture of old France.